By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
PHILADELPHIA — Having split the first two games of the series, the Philadelphia Phillies (33-62) and RHP Jerad Eickhoff hope to avoid their 23rd series loss in 32 series overall in Sunday's matinee finale against RHP Junior Guerra and the Milwaukee Brewers (53-47) at Citizens Bank Park.
The Phillies fell 9-8 to Milwaukee on Saturday, despite rallying a seven-run, late-inning comeback. Center fielder Odubel Herrera went 4-4 with a home run and two doubles, in the process setting a career single-season high in the latter category with 31. Trade candidate RHP Jeremy Hellickson struggled, allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks through just five innings and 93 pitches (59 strikes). Making his first start since July 18, Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun (calf, wrist) went 3-3 with a double, home run, walk, three runs scored and four RBIs.
The Phillies have fallen in 10 of Eickhoff's last 12 starts and in 13 of his 16 appearances overall this season. Eickhoff's 3.25 received run support average is the second lowest in baseball, minimum 15 starts, trailing only Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim RHP Ricky Nolasco (2.70).
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Milwaukee Brewers (53-47) | Philadelphia Phillies (33-62) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Junior Guerra | RHP | Jerad Eickhoff | ||
| (1-3, 4.77 ERA) | (1-7, 4.83 ERA) | ||||
Guerra Career vs. PHI: 0-0, 4.50 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 6 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 HR, 2 BB, 3 SO, 1.333 WHIP
Guerra's first and only career appearance against the Phillies came on June 4 of last season at Citizens Bank Park. In the six-inning, no-decision effort — in which Milwaukee would go on to win 6-3 in the Saturday matinee — Guerra tossed 101 pitches (57 strikes) and allowed three runs, all via home runs by second baseman Cesar Hernandez (two-run) and first baseman Tommy Joseph (solo). For Hernandez, it would be his first of six home runs, and the fourth of 21 home runs for Joseph that season.
Four of the 32-year-old's 11 outings this season have been quality starts. Guerra threw just three innings on Opening Day, missing the Brewers' next 46 games with a right calf strain. From May 26 to July 7, the right-hander went 1-3 with a 4.70 ERA and 35-31 strikeout-to-walk ratio spanning nine starts. Guerra missed time afterwards with a right shin bruise, however he returned on July 18 with a 5 2/3-inning, three-run no-decision outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.
Season Splits, By Month:
- April: 1 GS, 0-0, 6.00 ERA, 3 IP, 4 SO, 0 BB, .100/.182/.400
- May: 2 GS, 1-0, 0.77 ERA, 11 2/3 IP, 9 SO, 6 BB, .163/.265/.256
- June: 5 GS, 0-2, 6.00 ERA, 27 IP, 16 SO, 19 BB, .282/.403/.612
- July: 3 GS, 0-1, 5.54 ERA, 13 IP, 14 SO, 7 BB, .255/.350/.529
Eickhoff Career vs. MIL: 0-2, 6.75 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 12 IP, 17 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 3 HR, BB, 11 SO, 1.500 WHIP
Eickhoff, 27, returns for his third start since being activated from the disabled list on July 9 (upper back strain). Spanning his first 14 starts and 76 2/3 innings, from April 5 to June 17, the right-hander went 0-7 with a 4.93 ERA and 65-30 strikeout-to-walk ratio. In his two starts since, Eickhoff is 1-0 with a 4.09 ERA and 16-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 11 innings.
The Evansville, Indiana native faced the Brewers twice last season, away at Miller Park on April 24 (5 1/3 IP, 7 ER) and home at Citizens Bank Park on June 2 (6 2/3 IP, 2 ER). Both were losing decisions.
Season Splits, By Month:
- April: 5 GS, 0-2, 3.56 ERA, 30 1/3 IP, 28 SO, 11 BB, .235/.297/.383
- May: 5 GS, 0-3, 6.08 ERA, 26 2/3 IP, 23 SO, 8 BB, .325/.371/.491
- June: 4 GS, 0-2, 5.49 ERA, 19 2/3 IP, 14 SO, 11 BB, .291/.370/.468
- July: 2 GS, 1-0, 4.09 ERA, 11 IP, 16 SO, 5 BB, .256/.347/.488
Starting Lineups:
| Milwaukee Brewers (53-47) | Philadelphia Phillies (33-62) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Jonathan Villar | S | 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S |
| 2 | 1B | Eric Thames | L | 2 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S |
| 3 | LF | Ryan Braun | R | 3 | LF | Howie Kendrick | R |
| 4 | 3B | Travis Shaw | L | 4 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R |
| 5 | RF | Domingo Santana | R | 5 | RF | Nick Williams | L |
| 6 | C | Manny Pina | R | 6 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L |
| 7 | CF | Brett Phillips | L | 7 | 1B | Tommy Joseph | R |
| 8 | SS | Orlando Arcia | R | 8 | C | Andrew Knapp | S |
| 9 | P | Junior Guerra | R | 9 | P | Jerad Eickhoff | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 1:35 p.m.
- TV: CSN
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- In the month of July, Phillies starting pitchers are tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers' rotation in striking out the third-most batters in the National League, 104. They trail just the Washington Nationals and Arizona Diamondbacks, tied with 110 strikeouts.
- Through 30 career games and 138 plate appearances at Citizens Bank Park, Braun is batting .398/.449/.756 with nine doubles, one triple, 11 home runs, 33 RBIs, 13 walks and 17 strikeouts. He is 2-6 lifetime against Eickhoff with a solo home run.
- Three Phillies have acting hitting streaks of five or more games: rookie outfielder Nick Williams (seven games), shortstop Freddy Galvis (five games) and catcher Cameron Rupp (five games).
What's Next:
- Monday, July 24, 2017: vs. Houston Astros, 7:05 p.m.
- Citizens Bank Park
- RHP Brad Peacock (8-1, 2.49 ERA) vs. RHP Vince Velasquez (2-5, 5.14 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
