Slumping Phillies turn to Eflin for start against Marquez, Rockies

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies (15-27) — who have lost 18 of their last 22 games — will take on the National League-best Colorado Rockies (29-17) Tuesday evening in the second of a four-game series at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies will face for the first time right-hander German Marquez, who has won his last two starts with a combined 0.69 ERA and .156/.204/.244 opposing slash over 13 innings. Right-hander Zach Eflin will take the mound for Philadelphia, his seventh appearance since replacing injured RHP Clay Buchholz (torn flexor tendon) in the starting rotation.

Phillies right-hander Jerad Eickhoff fell to 0-5 on the season in the Phillies' 8-1 series opener defeat on Monday. The Phillies' offense picked up just three hits — a RBI single by first baseman Tommy Joseph and two doubles by left fielder Aaron Altherr.

Starting Pitching Matchup:

Marquez Career vs. PHI: N/A

Marquez, 22, has yet to face the Phillies through 11 career appearances — where over two seasons and 49 2/3 combined innings, the right-hander is 3-3 with a 4.71 ERA, 1.430 WHIP ratio and 39-16 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

In five starts and 29 innings this season, the San Felix, Venezuela native has surrendered 14 runs on 27 hits, two home runs and 10 walks while striking out 24. Marquez allowed one run or less in three of the starts. Of those, no home runs were allowed and two resulted as eight-strikeout performances.

Eflin Career vs. COL: 1-0, 3.00 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 6 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 2 BB, 3 SO, 1.500 WHIP

Eflin, 23, first faced the Rockies during his sixth career start on July 10, 2016 at Coors Field. Although Eflin received his second career win in the Phillies' 10-3 rout, he surrendered three doubles and one triple spanning 24 at-bats.

The Orlando, Florida native is coming off of his worst start of the season. On May 17 against the Texas Rangers — spanning a season-low four innings — Eflin surrendered seven runs on 11 hits (three doubles), two walks and just one strikeout. It was the right-hander's first losing decision through six starts, with the previous five ending in no-decisions, no fewer than five innings and no fewer than three runs allowed.

Starting Lineups:

Broadcast Information:

• First pitch: 7:05 p.m.
• TV: CSN
• Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

Game Notes:

• Joseph (.707) and Altherr (.687) rank fourth and sixth among all qualified Major League batters in slugging percentage during the month of May. Altherr's 19 May RBIs are tied with Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto for the second-most in baseball. They trail Los Angeles Dodgers 1B/OF Cody Bellinger for the Major League lead, 22.

• Eflin has hit an opposing batter in each of his last five starts. His five hit batters this season are tied with St. Louis Cardinals RHP Lance Lynn for the second most among all Major League pitchers, minimum 30 innings pitched. Eflin and Lynn trail only former Phillies RHP Charlie Morton (6).
• In 16 career at-bats against Eflin, active members of the Rockies are batting .188/.278/.250 with two singles, one double, two walks and two strikeouts.

NL East Standings (entering May 23, 2017)

What's Next:

• Wednesday, May 24, 2017: vs. Colorado Rockies, 7:05 p.m.
• Citizens Bank Park
• RHP Tyler Chatwood (3-6, 5.09 ERA) vs. RHP Jeremy Hellickson (5-1, 3.44 ERA)
• TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP