By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Looking for their fourth straight win, the Philadelphia Phillies (16-12) and RHP Vince Velasquez will open a two-game interleague set opposite the Detroit Tigers (12-14) Tuesday evening at Citizens Bank Park. Tigers RHP Tyson Ross was slated to start the series opener, however Tuesday morning he was placed on the paternity list. Rookie RHP Spencer Turnbull will start in place of Ross, who can be away from the team for 1-to-3 days.
Pitching the Phillies' first complete game in a win since September 2016, right-hander Zach Eflin went the distance in the club's 5-1 win over the Miami Marlins on Sunday, securing their fifth series win of the season. On 107 pitches and 77 strikes, Eflin scattered seven hits while walking just one; the only run he allowed was a RBI single by Miguel Rojas in the top of the fourth. On offense, Bryce Harper (20), Jean Segura (11) and Rhys Hoskins (23) produced RBI; as a whole, however, Phillies batters went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left five on base.
The Phillies have won two of their three interleague games so far this season, capturing the series win over the Minnesota Twins, April 5-7, at home. After their brief, two-game home set against the Tigers, Tuesday and Wednesday, the Phillies' next American League opponent will be three series from now, May 10-12, away against the Kansas City Royals.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Detroit Tigers (12-14) | Philadelphia Phillies (16-12) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Spencer Turnbull | RHP | Vince Velasquez | ||
| (1-2, 2.77 ERA) | (1-0, 1.99 ERA) | ||||
RHP Spencer Turnbull, Age: 26
- Career vs. PHI: N/A
- Career at Citizens Bank Park: N/A
Turnbull will make just his 10th career appearance and ninth career start since his MLB debut last September. The Demopolis, Alabama, native rookie has not allowed a single run over his last two starts while throwing no fewer than five innings and allowing no more than three singles. No active member of the Phillies has previously opposed Turnbull.
RHP Vince Velasquez, Age: 26
- Career vs. DET: 0-0, 6.75 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 4 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 HR, 2 BB, 2 SO, 2.750 WHIP
- Career at Citizens Bank Park: 11-13, 4.57 ERA, 36 G, 35 GS, 177 1/3 IP, 156 H, 95 R, 90 ER, 33 HR, 66 BB, 216 SO, 1.252 WHIP
Velasquez's only career start against the Tigers thus far came in his first season with the Phillies, May 23, 2016, at Comerica Park. The right-hander allowed four extra-base hits, including two home runs to opposing first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Through 48 career interleague innings, Velasquez has 50 strikeouts, a 4.13 ERA and 1.458 WHIP ratio.
Starting Lineups:
| Detroit Tigers (12-14) | Philadelphia Phillies (16-12) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 3B | Jeimer Candelario | S | 1 | CF | Andrew McCutchen | R |
| 2 | RF | Nicholas Castellanos | R | 2 | SS | Jean Segura | R |
| 3 | 1B | Miguel Cabrera | R | 3 | RF | Bryce Harper | L |
| 4 | LF | Niko Goodrum | S | 4 | 1B | Rhys Hoskins | R |
| 5 | 2B | Ronny Rodriguez | R | 5 | C | J.T. Realmuto | R |
| 6 | C | Grayson Greiner | R | 6 | LF | Nick Williams | L |
| 7 | SS | Jordy Mercer | R | 7 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S |
| 8 | CF | JaCoby Jones | R | 8 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R |
| 9 | P | Spencer Turnbull | R | 9 | P | Vince Velasquez | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 7:05 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- The Phillies currently hold a two-game lead in the National League East; just three of their next 40 games, through June 12, will be against a division opponent (Washington Nationals, May 3-5).
- Prior to the game, Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera (right hamstring strain) said he "might be five to seven days from rejoining the Phillies," MLB.com's Todd Zolecki reports. Herrera has not played since April 17.
- Over his last seven games, since April 12, Segura is slashing .423/.500/.692 with five runs scored, seven singles, a pair of doubles, one triple, one home run, four RBI, three walks and three strikeouts spanning 30 plate appearances.
- Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco's 7.9 strikeout percentage is the third-lowest among the 191 qualified MLB hitters, and his walk-to-strikeout ratio trails only Mike Trout, according to The Athletic's Meghan Montemurro.
- The Tigers have scored 43 fewer runs than the American League average, and in their 4-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Sunday, they struck out 20 times, notes NBC Sports Philadelphia's Corey Seidman.
- The Phillies will face the Tigers for the first time at home since June 17, 2007, when they opposed future Hall of Fame catcher Ivan Rodriguez and nine-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger Award winner Gary Sheffield. Right-handers Adam Eaton and Jose Mesa were among the Phillies pitchers to appear in the game. Fernando Rodney, in his fifth season, pitched in relief of Justin Verlander; Rodney is still active today, 12 years later, with the Oakland Athletics.
- The Phillies are just 3-9 (2-4 at home) against the Tigers in the Citizens Bank Park era (since 2004), outscored 76-49 and outhit 127-99. The Phillies have an all-time series record of 1-5 against the Tigers since their first meeting at Tiger Stadium in August 1997.
- In addition to Cabrera being 2-for-2 with two solo home runs in his career against Velasquez, shortstop Gordon Beckham is 2-for-8 with a double and four RBI opposite the Phillies right-hander.
What's Next:
- Wednesday, May 1, 2019: vs. Detroit Tigers, 7:05 p.m.
- Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pa.
- LHP Daniel Norris (1-0, 3.93 ERA) vs. RHP Aaron Nola (2-0, 5.68 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
