Phillies aim for division lead over Braves behind Velasquez

Matt Rappa

May 22 2018

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

Trailing the division-leading Atlanta Braves (28-18) by just a 1/2 game, the Philadelphia Phillies (27-18) will send RHP Vince Velasquez to the mound opposite 13-year veteran RHP Brandon McCarthy Tuesday evening at Citizens Bank Park.

Thanks to Aaron Altherr and Nick Williams going yard — along with RHP Nick Pivetta's seven-inning shutout performance where he struck out seven batters and allowed just four hits and one walk — the Phillies secured the series opener on Monday, 3-0. Seranthony Dominguez recorded his fourth hold, while Hector Neris notched his ninth save in relief. Catcher Jorge Alfaro also made an impressive play for the final out, in which manager Gabe Kapler said, "I don't know if there's another catcher that I've ever seen — and I played with Pudge — that makes that play in the ninth inning."

The Phillies are 10-4 (.714) against the Braves at home since the start of the 2017 season. The Phillies have fallen in six of 10 meetings with the Braves overall this season, but are 2-2 at home.

Starting Pitching Matchup:

Atlanta Braves (28-18)			Philadelphia Phillies (27-18)
RHP	Brandon McCarthy		RHP	Vince Velasquez
RHP	(4-2, 5.05 ERA)		RHP	(4-4, 4.37 ERA)

RHP Brandon McCarthy, Age: 34

Career vs. PHI: 3-1, 2.50 ERA, 6 G, 6 GS, 36 IP, 38 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 1 HR, 10 BB, 37 SO, 1.333 WHIP
Career at Citizens Bank Park: 1-0, 1.69 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 5 1/3 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 HR, 3 BB, 6 SO, 1.500 WHIP

McCarthy has won each of his three starts against the Phillies so far this season, allowing just four runs on 16 hits, eight walks and 17 strikeouts through 16 frames. The Braves have outscored the Phillies 32-6 in these three starts.

RHP Vince Velasquez, Age: 25

Career vs. ATL: 0-4, 4.89 ERA, 7 G, 7 GS, 38 2/3 IP, 47 H, 25 R, 21 ER, 5 HR, 11 BB, 39 SO, 1.500 WHIP
Career at Citizens Bank Park: 7-10, 4.40 ERA, 24 G, 24 GS, 124 2/3 IP, 113 H, 65 R, 61 ER, 27 HR, 43 BB, 156 SO, 1.251 WHIP

Velasquez is 0-3 with a 9.24 ERA and 2.211 WHIP against the Braves through three starts and 12 2/3 innings this season. He is 4-1 with a 2.60 ERA and 0.981 against all other opponents through six starts and 34 2/3 innings. The right-hander has yet to solve the Braves throughout his career, going 0-4 with a 4.89 and 1.500 WHIP in seven overall starts (38 2/3 innings).

The Montclair, California, native is coming off of a 6 1/3 shutout performance against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday, when he allowed just five hits and two walks while striking out five on 96 pitches and 60 strikes.

Starting Lineups:

Atlanta Braves (28-18)				Philadelphia Phillies (27-18)
	Position	Player	Bats		Position	Player	Bats
1	2B	Ozzie Albies	S	1	2B	Cesar Hernandez	S
2	LF	Ronald Acuna Jr.	R	2	LF	Rhys Hoskins	R
3	1B	Freddie Freeman	L	3	CF	Odubel Herrera	L
4	RF	Nick Markakis	L	4	1B	Carlos Santana	S
5	C	Tyler Flowers	R	5	C	Jorge Alfaro	R
6	CF	Ender Inciarte	L	6	RF	Nick Williams	L
7	SS	Dansby Swanson	R	7	3B	Maikel Franco	R
8	3B	Ryan Flaherty	L	8	SS	Scott Kingery	R
9	P	Brandon McCarthy	R	9	P	Vince Velasquez	R

Broadcast Information:

First pitch: 7:05 p.m.
TV: NBCSP
Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

Game Notes:

The Phillies have the best home record among all MLB teams (17-6, .739), with a +52 run differential over these contests. The club has gone 28-11 over their last 39 games at the venue.
Following this series, the Phillies will not oppose the Braves again until September 20-23 in Atlanta. The Phillies will play the Braves in seven of their final 11 regular season games in 2018.
The Phillies have homered in 16 consecutive games, tying 2002 and 2006 for the second-longest streak in franchise history, per The Athletic's Meghan Montemurro. The club record is 18, set in 2008.
Second baseman Cesar Hernandez has reached base safely in 25 straight games since April 22. The switch-hitter is just 1-11 lifetime against McCarthy, however, with six strikeouts and a .091/.167/.091 slash.