Nick Pivetta opposes the National League Central-worst Cincinnati Reds Friday evening at
Great American Ball Park (Keith Allison/Flickr Creative Commons).
By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Winners of 17 of their last 25 games, the Philadelphia Phillies (58-44) and RHP Nick Pivetta will oppose RHP Anthony DeSclafani and the Cincinnati Reds (45-58) in the second of a four-game series Friday evening at Great American Ball Park. Since June 27, Pivetta (8.27) and DeSclafani (6.49) respectively have the second and sixth-highest ERA among starting pitchers in the National League, minimum 16 innings pitched.
Roman Quinn will join the Phillies tonight in Cincinnati. Switch-hitting OF who can really run and play defensive. Should provide spark off the bench
— Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyNBCS) July 27, 2018
The Phillies slugged their way to a 9-4 series opener win on Thursday, as southpaw Ranger Suarez earned the win in his MLB debut. Suarez did not record a quality start, however, yielding four runs and two home runs on six hits, one walk and three strikeouts spanning five innings and 75 pitches. Rhys Hoskins, Nick Williams and Maikel Franco each homered twice, while Carlos Santana homered once. The last team with three players with multiple home runs in the same game was the Boston Red Sox in 2003. The Phillies bullpen combined for four scoreless frames, allowing just two hits and no walks while punching out six batters.
The Phillies are 18-9 against National League Central opponents this season, and are 14-7 in July. The club currently holds a 2 1/2-game lead in the division with 60 games to go.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (58-44) | Cincinnati Reds (45-58) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Nick Pivetta | RHP | Anthony DeSclafani | ||
| (6-8, 4.69 ERA) | (4-3, 5.40 ERA) | ||||
RHP Nick Pivetta, Age: 25
- 2018 vs. CIN: 0-0, 2.57 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 0 BB, 7 SO, 0.714 WHIP
- Career vs. CIN: 0-0, 2.57 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 0 BB, 7 SO, 0.714 WHIP
- Career at Great American Ball Park: N/A
This season, Pivetta has 42 strikeouts in 40 1/3 innings on the road, as opposed to 80 strikeouts in 61 1/3 innings at home. Just six of Pivetta's 20 starts this season qualify as a quality start, with the last coming on July 12 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
RHP Anthony DeSclafani, Age: 28
- 2018 vs. PHI: N/A
- Career vs. PHI: 3-1, 5.21 ERA, 4 G, 3 GS, 19 IP, 22 H, 11 R, 11 ER, HR, 4 BB, 9 SO, 1.368 WHIP
- Career at Great American Ball Park: 11-14, 4.52 ERA, 32 G, 31 GS, 183 IP, 213 H, 102 R, 92 ER, 30 HR, 41 BB, 163 SO, 1.388 WHIP
Freehold, New Jersey, native DeSclafani will make his fifth career appearance against the Phillies, and his first June 9, 2015. The four-year veteran did not appear last season due to a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament, and missed the Reds' first 60 games both in 2016 and 2018 with oblique strains.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (58-44) | Cincinnati Reds (45-58) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 1 | SS | Jose Peraza | R |
| 2 | LF | Rhys Hoskins | R | 2 | 2B | Scooter Gennett | L |
| 3 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 3 | 1B | Joey Votto | L |
| 4 | 1B | Carlos Santana | S | 4 | 3B | Eugenio Suarez | R |
| 5 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 5 | C | Tucker Barnhart | S |
| 6 | RF | Nick Williams | L | 6 | LF | Adam Duvall | R |
| 7 | SS | Scott Kingery | R | 7 | RF | Mason Williams | L |
| 8 | C | Jorge Alfaro | R | 8 | P | Anthony DeSclafani | R |
| 9 | P | Nick Pivetta | R | 9 | CF | Billy Hamilton | S |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 7:10 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- In the National League, the Phillies have the third-most wins, and trail the Chicago Cubs by two games for the top spot.
- Over his last seven games, Hoskins is slashing .345/.441/1.069 with nine runs scored, one single, three doubles, six home runs, 11 RBI, five walks and five strikeouts. Hoskins has a six-game hitting streak (.385/.448/1.192), while Santana has hit in five straight (.318/.375/.591).
- The Phillies are 4-0 against the Reds this season, outscoring manager Jim Riggleman's club, 25-13, and outhitting, 36-33.
- Franco and Santana are a combined 6-11 lifetime against DeSclafani with five doubles, two RBI, one walk and two strikeouts, while Odubel Herrera is 3-3.
In the News:
- Phillies Hot Stove: Club ‘Considering a Reunion’ With Freddy Galvis [Link]
- Phillies Sign Arjona, Sutera to Professional Contracts [Link]
- Suarez Wins Debut as Phillies Slug Franchise Record-Tying 7 Home Runs [Link]
- Report: Former Phillies LHP Cole Hamels Dealt to Cubs [Link]
- Report: Phillies to Promote OF Roman Quinn to Big-League Club [Link]
- Phillies Hot Stove: Club Continuing 'Background Work' on Twins' Escobar [Link]
- Phillies Tabbed for 4th Facebook-Exclusive Stream Against Mets [Link]
- Former Phillies Prospect Imhof Well-Positioned in New Career Following Tragic Injury [Link]
- Phillies Announce 2008 Champions Scheduled to Appear in 10-Year Anniversary Ceremony [Link]
What's Next:
Saturday, July 28, 2018: at Cincinnati Reds, 6:40 p.m.
- Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
- RHP Vince Velasquez (7-8, 4.05 ERA) vs. RHP Matt Harvey (5-6, 5.21 ERA)
- TV: NBC 10; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
