By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
The Philadelphia Phillies (30-23) will look to split their third series of the season — and avoid their ninth series defeat — as starting aces Aaron Nola and Los Angeles Dodgers (26-29) southpaw Clayton Kershaw square off in Thursday's series finale at Dodger Stadium.
The Phillies fell in the third of the four-game set on Wednesday, 8-2. Dodgers right fielder Matt Kemp produced a game-high four RBI, while Phillies starter Zach Eflin allowed five runs through four innings. Nick Williams homered in the second straight game. Former Phillies minor league switch-handed pitcher Pat Venditte allowed a RBI single to Cesar Hernandez in the ninth. Phillies third baseman Mitch Walding debuted with an 0-4, four-strikeout performance — the first Phillie to debut with such performance "in recorded history," per Corey Seidman.
Prior to the game, the Phillies recalled outfielder Dylan Cozens and RHP Mark Leiter from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Right-hander Drew Hutchison, meanwhile, was designated for assignment.
A win on Thursday will snap the Phillies' three-series losing streak at Dodger Stadium. They are just 3-10 at the venue since 2015.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (30-23) | Los Angeles Dodgers (26-29) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Aaron Nola | LHP | Clayton Kershaw | ||
| (6-2, 2.27 ERA) | (1-4, 2.86 ERA) | ||||
RHP Aaron Nola, Age: 24
- Career vs. LAD: 1-0, 2.57 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 8 SO, 1.000 WHIP
- Career at Dodger Stadium: N/A
Nola was seven outs shy of a no-hitter in his most recent start on May 26. The right-hander struck out double-digits in batters, the fourth such start of his career. Through five May starts, Nola is 3-1 with a 1.91 ERA, 39-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 1.000 WHIP in 33 innings.
LHP Clayton Kershaw, Age: 30
- Career vs. PHI: 3-5, 3.16 ERA, 12 G, 12 GS, 77 IP, 62 H, 27 R, 27 ER, 6 HR, 21 BB, 86 SO, 1.078 WHIP
- Career at Dodger Stadium: 81-34, 2.07 ERA, 155 G, 155 GS, 1,053 IP, 749 H, 270 R, 242 ER, 67 HR, 261 BB, 1,192 SO, 0.959 WHIP
Through four home starts in 2018, Kershaw is 1-3 with a 3.24 ERA, 30-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 1.280 WHIP spanning 25 frames. The three-time Cy Young Award winner will make his first start since May 1, after being sidelined with left biceps tendinitis.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (30-23) | Los Angeles Dodgers (26-29) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 1 | LF | Joc Pederson | L |
| 2 | RF | Aaron Altherr | R | 2 | 1B | Max Muncy | L |
| 3 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 3 | 3B | Justin Turner | R |
| 4 | 1B | Carlos Santana | S | 4 | C | Yasmani Grandal | S |
| 5 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 5 | CF | Cody Bellinger | L |
| 6 | LF | Nick Williams | L | 6 | RF | Yasiel Puig | R |
| 7 | SS | Scott Kingery | R | 7 | 2B | Breyvic Valera | S |
| 8 | C | Jorge Alfaro | R | 8 | SS | Enrique Hernandez | R |
| 9 | P | Aaron Nola | R | 9 | P | Clayton Kershaw | L |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 7:35 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP, MLBN
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- The Phillies are finishing with a winning record in May (14-11) for the first time since 2012 (16-13).
- Former Phillies second baseman Chase Utley is 0-4 against his former club this series with two strikeouts, and is hitless in each of his last 14 plate appearances. The Dodgers placed the veteran on the 10-day disabled list on Wednesday with a left thumb sprain. Over his last 11 games and 26 plate appearances since May 12, Utley is slashing just .038/.038/.038 with six strikeouts. Through 51 career plate appearances against the Phillies, Utley is slashing .208/.255/.458 with five singles, one double, one triple, three home runs and seven RBI.
- Prior to Wednesday's game, a CT scan revealed that Rhys Hoskins fractured his jaw — in addition to a lacerated lip — after fouling a ball off his face on Monday. Hoskins doubled in a ninth-inning pinch-hit appearance on Tuesday, but will miss time on the 10-day disabled list On Thursday, the Phillies announced Hoskins will not need surgery. While his timetable to return is uncertain, it is shorter than if surgery was required, per Jim Salisbury.
- Through 11 career at-bats against Nola, Kemp is hitless with one walk and three strikeouts. Maikel Franco and Odubel Herrera are a combined 2-14 against Kershaw, while Aaron Altherr is the only active Phillie to previously homer off the southpaw, via a grand slam.
Phillies have given 375 at-bats this season to rookies. Most in the National League and 2nd-most in baseball behind the Yankees.
— Corey Seidman (@CSeidmanNBCS) May 31, 2018
What's Next:
Friday, June 1, 2018: at San Francisco Giants, 10:15 p.m.
- AT&T Park, San Francisco, Calif.
- RHP Nick Pivetta (4-3, 3.26 ERA) vs. RHP Chris Stratton (6-3, 4.97 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
