Arrieta Returns to Wrigley Field as Phillies, Cubs Open 4-Game Series

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

After pitching in parts of five seasons with the Chicago Cubs (27-17) from 2013 to 2017 — while winning the 2015 National League Cy Young Award and 2016 World Series — Philadelphia Phillies (27-19) 10-year veteran RHP Jake Arrieta will take on his former team for the first time Monday evening, in the first of a four-game series at the historic Wrigley Field. The Cubs are the only team Arrieta has never faced.

The Phillies begin a seven-game road trip, with all games against National League Central opponents (Cubs, May 20-23; Brewers, May 24-26).

Starting Pitching Matchup:

RHP Jake Arrieta, Age: 33

• Career vs. CHC: N/A
• Career at Wrigley Field: 30-14, 2.31 ERA, 59 G, 59 GS, 378 1/3 IP, 243 H, 105 R, 97 ER, 21 HR, 120 BB, 378 SO, 0.959 WHIP

Arrieta will make his 60th career regular season start at Wrigley Field; his last such appearance at the venue was a six-scoreless-inning performance opposite the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 29, 2017. He allowed just two hits and two walks while striking out four of his 22 batters faced. Arrieta's last overall appearance at Wrigley came in Game 4 of the 2017 NLCS opposite the Los Angeles Dodgers (W, 6 2/3 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 5 BB, 9 SO).

After starting the 2019 season 3-2 with a 2.65 ERA over his first five starts, Arrieta is just 1-2 with a 6.14 ERA over his four starts since, allowing opposing batters to slash a combined .299/.374/.448.

RHP Yu Darvish, Age: 32

• Career vs. PHI: 1-0, 0.73 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 12 1/3 IP, 8 H, 2 R, ER, 0 HR, 3 BB, 16 SO, 0.892 WHIP
• Career at Wrigley Field: 0-5, 5.73 ERA, 8 G, 8 GS, 37 2/3 IP, 38 H, 27 R, 24 ER, 9 HR, 27 BB, 51 SO, 1.726 WHIP

Darvish has yet to win at Wrigley Field, going 0-5 with a 5.73 ERA and 1.726 WHIP in eight starts at the venue. The Habikino, Japan, native and four-time All-Star has had success against the Phillies, nonetheless, allowing only one earned run over two starts and 12 1/3 frames.

Starting Lineups:

Broadcast Information:

• First pitch: 8:05 p.m.
• TV: NBCSP
• Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

Game Notes:

• The Phillies trail the Cubs by just one game for the second-best record in the National League. In the National League East, the club holds a 2 1/2-game lead, more than 28 percent through the season.

• Cubs shortstop Javier Baez is out of the Cubs' starting lineup; he suffered a heel contusion on Sunday against the Washington Nationals and is considered day-to-day. Addison Russell will start instead, batting eighth.
• The Phillies have not won a series at Wrigley Field since July 24-26, 2015. In their 10 games (three series) at the venue since, the club is just 2-8, despite only being outscored 49-40 and outhit 85-81.

• Shortstop Jean Segura is tied with the Minnesota Twins' Marwin Gonzalez for the longest active hitting streak, 10 games. Over this stretch, Segura is slashing .366/.409/.561 with eight runs scored, 15 hits, two home runs, five RBI, three walks and seven strikeouts over 41 at-bats. Segura is a .500 career hitter against Darvish (4 at-bats).
• Right fielder Bryce Harper is also riding a five-game hitting streak, slashing .350/.381/.800 with three runs scored, seven hits, two home runs, six RBI, one walk and six strikeouts spanning 20 at-bats.
• Phillies 2019 season series record: 9-4-2

• Cubs second baseman Daniel Descalso is hitless in 10 career at-bats opposite Arrieta (.000/.154/.000). Opposite Darvish, however, Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera is 3-for-6 with a double and strikeout (.500/.500/.667) (click to expand).

What's Next:

• Tuesday, May 21, 2019: at Chicago Cubs, 7:05 p.m.
  • Wrigley Field, Chicago, Il.
  • RHP Zach Eflin (5-4, 2.89 ERA) vs. LHP Jose Quintana (4-3, 3.68 ERA)
  • TV: NBCSP, ESPN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP