By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor
Looking to improve to a season-high 10 games over .500 while winning their fifth straight game, the Philadelphia Phillies (28-19) and RHP Zach Eflin will take on eight-year veteran southpaw Jose Quintana and the Chicago Cubs (27-18) Tuesday evening at Wrigley Field in the second of a seven-game road trip.
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The club is coming off of its first victory when trailing after eight innings; on Monday, tied at 4 in extras with two outs, catcher J.T. Realmuto launched what would turn out to be the game-winning home run. Right-hander Jake Arrieta made his first career start against his former club and allowed just one run through six innings in the no-decision. The Phillies had lost 44 straight games when trailing after eight innings prior to the series opener victory.
The recently activated Scott Kingery will start in center field in place of Odubel Herrera, who is hitless over his last 19 plate appearances with just three walks and five strikeouts. Kingery, meanwhile, has 14 hits over his last 35 plate appearances, coupled with four doubles, two home runs, six RBI, one walk and six strikeouts.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
Philadelphia Phillies (28-19) | Chicago Cubs (27-18) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
RHP | Zach Eflin | LHP | Jose Quintana | ||
(5-4, 2.89 ERA) | (4-3, 3.68 ERA) |
RHP Zach Eflin, Age: 25
- Career vs. CHC: 1-1, 3.20 ERA, 3 G, 3 GS, 19 2/3 IP, 24 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 0 HR, 2 BB, 7 SO, 1.322 WHIP
- Career at Wrigley Field: 1-0, 2.45 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 14 2/3 IP, 17 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 HR, BB, 3 SO, 1.227 WHIP
LHP Jose Quintana, Age: 30
- Career vs. PHI: 0-1, 4.76 ERA, 4 G, 4 GS, 22 2/3 IP, 20 H, 12 R, 12 ER, HR, 9 BB, 29 SO, 1.279 WHIP
- Career at Wrigley Field: 15-6, 3.88 ERA, 29 G, 29 GS, 167 IP, 73 R, 72 ER, 24 HR, 52 BB, 172 SO, 1.186 WHIP
Starting Lineups:
Philadelphia Phillies (28-19) | Chicago Cubs (27-18) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
1 | LF | Andrew McCutchen | R | 1 | LF | Kyle Schwarber | L |
2 | SS | Jean Segura | R | 2 | 3B | Kris Bryant | R |
3 | RF | Bryce Harper | L | 3 | 1B | Anthony Rizzo | L |
4 | 1B | Rhys Hoskins | R | 4 | C | Willson Contreras | R |
5 | C | J.T. Realmuto | R | 5 | RF | Jason Heyward | L |
6 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 6 | CF | Albert Almora | R |
7 | CF | Scott Kingery | R | 7 | 2B | Daniel Descalso | L |
8 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 8 | SS | Addison Russell | R |
9 | P | Zach Eflin | R | 9 | P | Jose Quintana | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 7:05 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP, ESPN
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- The Cubs’ Javier Baez (heel contusion) is out for the second straight game; he could start in Wednesday’s highly anticipated matchup between southpaws Cole Irvin and Cole Hamels, however.
Maddon still not sure where Baez is physically . He hopes to start him Wednesday
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) May 21, 2019
- Bryce Harper has reached base in all of his 18 career games played at Wrigley Field.
- Jean Segura‘s MLB-best, 11-game hitting streak nearly was snapped on Monday, before the shortstop delivered a two-out, game-tying bloop RBI single in the ninth to extend the game into extras.
- Phillies 2019 season series record: 9-4-2; the club has not won a series at Wrigley Field since July 24-26, 2015.
- Phillies leadoff hitter Andrew McCutchen is 5-for-13 in his career against Quintana with a double, two RBI, two walks and three strikeouts (.385/.467/.462) (click to expand).
What’s Next:
- Wednesday, May 22, 2019: at Chicago Cubs, 8:05 p.m.
- Wrigley Field, Chicago, Il.
- LHP Cole Irvin (2-0, 2.77 ERA) vs. LHP Cole Hamels (4-0, 3.13 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP