By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
CHICAGO — Having split the first two of the four-game set with the Chicago Cubs (14-12), the Philadelphia Phillies (12-13) will send RHP Jerad Eickhoff to the mound in opposition of RHP Jake Arrieta Wednesday evening at Wrigley Field.
The Phillies fell 8-3 to the Cubs on Tuesday, as Cubs southpaw Jon Lester improved to 7-0 lifetime against the Phillies through nine career starts. Even though he walked five batters in as many innings, Lester picked up his first win of the season and the 147th overall of his 12-year career. Right-hander Jeremy Hellickson threw a season-low four innings, while allowing a season-high six runs on eight hits, two walks and three home runs.
On offense, the Phillies had just four hits in the defeat. Half of the hits came off the bat of left fielder Aaron Altherr — including a solo home run in the top of the first inning. First baseman Tommy Joseph and right fielder Michael Saunders also had RBI-double and single base knocks in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (12-13) | Chicago Cubs (14-12) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Jerad Eickhoff | RHP | Jake Arrieta | ||
| (0-2, 3.56 ERA) | (3-1, 4.66 ERA) | ||||
Eickhoff Career vs. CHC: 1-1, 2.70 ERA, 3 G, 3 GS, 20 IP, 13 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 HR, 6 BB, 23 SO, 0.950 WHIP
Eickhoff, 26, has yet to record a win this season, despite allowing more than three runs in just one of his five starts. Both of his losses this season have come on the road, where he sports a 4.91 ERA (18 1/3 IP, 10 ER), as opposed to a 1.50 ERA (12 IP, 2 ER) in two home starts.
Of the 18 Major League teams Eickhoff has faced thus far in his career, his highest strikeouts per nine innings ratio has come against the Cubs, 10.4. The only other team the right-hander has such ratio greater than 10 over his career is the Arizona Diamondbacks (10.1), with 12 strikeouts over 10 2/3 innings and two starts. Eickhoff first faced the Cubs during his fifth career start on Sept. 12, 2015 at Citizens Bank Park.
In one career start at Wrigley, Eickhoff is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA and 1.500 WHIP ratio. This outing occurred in the Phillies' 4-1 defeat on May 28 of last season, as Eickhoff allowed four runs on eight hits, one home run, one walk and seven strikeouts spanning six innings.
Arrieta Career vs. PHI: 3-2, 3.98 ERA, 5 G, 5 GS, 31 2/3 IP, 28 H, 14 R, 14 ER, 5 HR, 9 BB, 33 SO, 1.168 WHIP
Arrieta, 31, lasted just 4 1/3 innings in his most recent start on April 28 at Fenway Park. This snapped his streak — which dates back to August 2014 — of 72 straight starts with at least five innings pitched. Four of the right-handers five starts this season have come on the road. Arrieta has surrendered six home runs, four doubles and a triple over his last four starts.
The 2015 National League Cy Young Award winner is 1-1 all-time against the Phillies at Wrigley Field. Arrieta's only loss against the Phillies through four starts and 27 2/3 innings with the Cubs occurred on July 25, 2015 — a no-hitter by left-hander Cole Hamels in his last start before being traded to the Texas Rangers.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (12-13) | Chicago Cubs (14-12) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 1 | LF | Kyle Schwarber | L |
| 2 | LF | Daniel Nava | S | 2 | 3B | Kris Bryant | R |
| 3 | RF | Aaron Altherr | R | 3 | 1B | Anthony Rizzo | L |
| 4 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 4 | RF | Ben Zobrist | S |
| 5 | CF | Odubel Herrera | R | 5 | SS | Addison Russell | R |
| 6 | 1B | Brock Stassi | L | 6 | CF | Jayson Heyward | L |
| 7 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S | 7 | C | Miguel Montero | L |
| 8 | C | Andrew Knapp | S | 8 | P | Jake Arrieta | R |
| 9 | P | Jerad Eickhoff | R | 9 | 2B | Javier Baez | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 8:05 p.m.
- TV: CSN
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes
- In the first inning this season, the Phillies have scored a Major League second-best 26 runs — trailing only the Milwaukee Brewers (28) — while the Cubs have allowed a Major League-worst 33 runs.
- The Phillies' +9 run differential is currently the fifth-best in the National League, bested by the Washington Nationals (+45), Diamondbacks (+32), Los Angeles Dodgers (+27) and Cubs (+15).
- Lifetime against Arrieta, Phillies 1B/OF Daniel Nava is 4-12 with a solo home run and two walks. Shortstop Freddy Galvis, meanwhile, is hitless in seven at-bats with three strikeouts. Galvis saw his career-best 13-game hitting streak come to an end Tuesday evening, going 0-4 in the Phillies' defeat. The only active member of the Cubs to have homered against Eickhoff is C/LF Kyle Schwarber. Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward is 2-5 with two doubles, one walk and one RBI.
NL East Standings (entering May 3, 2017)
| W | L | GB | L10 | Streak | Home | Road | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Nationals | 17 | 9 | — | 6-4 | L1 | 7-6 | 10-3 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 12 | 13 | 4.5 | 6-4 | L1 | 7-4 | 5-9 |
| Atlanta Braves | 11 | 14 | 5.5 | 5-5 | W1 | 5-4 | 6-10 |
| Miami Marlins | 11 | 14 | 5.5 | 3-7 | L2 | 5-6 | 6-8 |
| New York Mets | 11 | 15 | 6.0 | 3-7 | L1 | 4-10 | 7-5 |
What's Next:
- Thursday, May 4, 2017: at Chicago Cubs, 2:20 p.m.
- Wrigley Field
- RHP Zach Eflin (0-0, 1.89 ERA) vs. RHP John Lackey (2-3, 5.10 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
