Phillies, Pivetta Vie for Season Sweep of Machado, MLB-Worst Orioles

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

The Philadelphia Phillies (51-40) will take on Manny Machado and the MLB-worst Baltimore Orioles (26-67) Thursday evening at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, ahead of their three-game weekend set in Miami to conclude the unofficial first half of the 2018 season. Right-handers Nick Pivetta and Kevin Gausman will square off in the interleague contest, making up the May 15 postponed game between both clubs.

Read: Orioles' Gausman makes spring debut wearing No. 34 in honor of late idol Roy Halladay

The Phillies were shut out for the fourth time this season in Wednesday's series finale against the New York Mets at Citi Field, 3-0. Mets starter Jacob deGrom tossed eight shutout frames, punching out seven batters while allowing just five hits and a walk on 113 pitches. Phillies starter Vince Velasquez pitched nearly as effective, throwing six shutout innings with just two hits and a walk surrendered on 85 pitches. Pinch-hitter Brandon Nimmo's three-run walkoff home run against Mark Leiter in the 10th delivered the game's only runs. Catcher Andrew Knapp's double opposite deGrom extended the team's extra-base hits streak to 87 games.

Previous Phillies shutout losses in 2018:

• June 1, at San Francisco Giants, 0-4
• June 2, at San Francisco Giants, 0-2
• June 26, vs. New York Yankees, 0-6

The Phillies are 3-0 against the Orioles this season, outscoring the American League East opponent, 11-4, with two of the games played at Citizens Bank Park. A win on Thursday would secure the Phillies their second-ever season sweep of the Orioles, joining 2003 (3-0). The Orioles have two season sweeps of the Phillies all-time, 1997 (3-0) and 2009 (3-0).

Starting Pitching Matchup:

RHP Nick Pivetta, Age: 25

• 2018 vs. BAL: 1-0, 1.29 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 7 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 1 BB, 11 SO, 0.429 WHIP
• Career vs. BAL: 1-0, 1.29 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 7 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 1 BB, 11 SO, 0.429 WHIP
• Career at Oriole Park at Camden Yards: 1-0, 1.29 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 7 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 1 BB, 11 SO, 0.429 WHIP

Pivetta has pitched just 4 1/3 innings over his last two starts, allowing a combined 12 hits, 10 runs — eight earned — three home runs and four walks spanning 30 batters faced.

The right-hander's first and only career appearance against the Orioles came on May 16 in Baltimore, in which he allowed just one run on two hits and a walk through seven frames, while striking out a then-career-high 11 batters. Pivetta bested his career-high mark on June 18, striking out 13 against the St. Louis Cardinals.

RHP Kevin Gausman, Age: 27

• 2018 vs. PHI: N/A
• Career vs. PHI: N/A
• Career at Oriole Park at Camden Yards: 23-18, 3.57 ERA, 67 G, 59 GS, 365 1/3 IP, 353 H, 154 R, 145 ER, 53 HR, 101 BB, 331 SO, 1.243 WHIP

While Gausman has never faced the Phillies in the regular season, the right-hander pitched three shutout frames against the club in spring training action on March 3. Gausman recorded five strikeouts, while allowing no hits or walks en route to Baltimore's 4-2 victory at Spectrum Field.

Through 90 1/3 career interleague innings, Gausman is 3-9 with a 6.18 ERA, 1.583 WHIP and 88-34 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Starting Lineups:

Broadcast Information:

• First pitch: 6:05 p.m.
• TV: NBCSP
• Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

Game Notes:

• With the Phillies' loss and the Atlanta Braves' win on Wednesday, both clubs are tied again for the National League East lead. The Phillies and Braves hold a 1 1/2-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers for the second National League Wild Card spot.
• Machado, 2018 vs. PHI: 3 G, 3 GS, 12 PA, 10 AB, 1 R, 1 H, 1 2B, 0 HR, 2 SB, 2 BB, 2 SO, .100/.250/.200/.450
• The Phillies are 15-15 all-time at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
• The Phillies have lost just one of their last nine series, going 7-1-1 since June 12.
• The Orioles have a 1/2-game lead over the Kansas City Royals for the worst record in Major League Baseball. Manager Buck Showalter's club has the second-worst run differential in baseball this season, -159, while the Phillies have the 13th-best, +22.
• The only Phillies to have previously faced Gausman in their respective careers are Carlos Santana (2-7, .286/.500/.571) and the recently-recalled Trevor Plouffe (4-12, .333/.400/.750). Orioles center fielder Adam Jones has previously homered off Pivetta (1-3, .333/.333/1.333), while designated hitter Mark Trumbo is 0-3 with three strikeouts.

In the News:

Trade Rumors

• Phillies Hot Stove: Cole Hamels Would ‘Absolutely Love’ to Rejoin Club [Link]
• Report: Phillies ‘Will Not Include’ Top Prospect Sanchez in Deal for Machado [Link]
• Report: Phillies Showing Interest in 2-Time All-Star Closer Britton [Link]
• Phillies Rumors: Machado Remains Club's 'Top Target' [Link]
• Phillies Hot Stove: Stark on Eflin, Franco, Machado, Royals [Link]

All-Star Festivities

• Phillies' Hoskins to Participate in 2018 Home Run Derby [Link]
• Nola: Being an All-Star Is ‘A Dream Come True’ [Link]
• Kapler: ‘Not Much Utility in Feeling Sorry’ for Lack of All-Stars [Link]
• Phillies’ Nola Named to National League All-Star Team [Link]

Transactions

• Phillies Option De Los Santos to Triple-A Following Stellar Debut [Link]
• Phillies Promote Former 1st Round Pick Haseley to Double-A [Link]

What's Next:

Friday, July 13, 2018: at Miami Marlins, 7:10 p.m.

• Marlins Park, Miami, Fla.
• RHP Jake Arrieta (6-6, 3.47 ERA) vs. LHP Wei-Yin Chen (2-6, 6.14 ERA)
• TV: NBC 10; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP