Phillies, Arrieta set to take on NL-best Brewers in series opener

Matt Rappa

June 15 2018

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

The Philadelphia Phillies (35-31) and right-hander Jake Arrieta will take on the National League-best Milwaukee Brewers (41-27) in the first of a three-game series Friday evening at Miller Park. Brewers southpaw Brent Suter will make his third career start against the Phillies, his second this season.

The Phillies and right-hander Vince Velasquez were seven outs away from their 14th no-hitter in franchise history on Thursday, as the right-hander did not allow a hit to the Colorado Rockies through his first 20 recorded outs. Just three Rockies reached based against Velasquez overall, after he surrendered a no-hitter-breaking RBI double to Trevor Story with two outs in the seventh. On offense, Rhys Hoskins and Nick Williams each doubled and went yard for the eighth time this season. Odubel Herrera, Carlos Santana and J.P. Crawford also added RBI, culminating into a 13-hit, 9-3 Phillies win to secure their eighth series victory out of 22 overall (8-11-3).

Last weekend, the Phillies fell in two of three home games against the Brewers, outscored 27-11 and outhit 34-18. Suter picked up the victory over Arrieta on Saturday.

Starting Pitching Matchup:

Philadelphia Phillies (35-31)			Milwaukee Brewers (41-27)
RHP	Jake Arrieta		LHP	Brent Suter
RHP	(5-4, 2.97 ERA)		LHP	(6-4, 4.61 ERA)

RHP Jake Arrieta, Age: 32

Career vs. MIL: 8-5, 2.96 ERA, 16 G, 16 GS, 97 1/3 IP, 62 H, 35 R, 32 ER, 10 HR, 37 BB, 85 SO, 1.017 WHIP
Career at Miller Park: 3-0, 2.03 ERA, 5 G, 5 GS, 31 IP, 18 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 3 HR, 7 BB, 30 SO, 0.806 WHIP

After producing a 0.90 ERA in five May starts (three earned runs in 30 innings pitched), Arrieta has a 7.15 ERA thus far through two June starts (nine earned runs in 11 1/3 innings pitched). In his most recent start, also against the Brewers at home on June 9, Arrieta exited on top, 3-2, during the sixth inning. Luis Garcia entered in relief with the bases loaded and one out, and surrendered a go-ahead grand slam to pinch hitter Ji-Man Choi. Choi has since been dealt to the Tampa Bay Rays. Arrieta suffered his first career loss through eight appearances at Citizens Bank Park.

LHP Brent Suter, Age: 28

Career vs. PHI: 1-0, 3.27 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 11 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 HR, 1 BB, 10 SO, 0.909 WHIP
Career at Miller Park: 7-3, 3.99 ERA, 27 G, 13 GS, 88 IP, 90 H, 41 R, 39 ER, 14 HR, 22 BB, 75 SO, 1.273 WHIP

Suter has won four of his last five starts, including his most recent outing against the Phillies on June 9. All three runs Suter allowed in the outing came via a three-run home run by Phillies 1B/OF Rhys Hoskins in his first game back since suffering a fractured jaw.

Starting Lineups:

Philadelphia Phillies (35-31)				Milwaukee Brewers (41-27)
	Position	Player	Bats		Position	Player	Bats
1	2B	Cesar Hernandez	S	1	CF	Lorenzo Cain	CF
2	LF	Rhys Hoskins	R	2	RF	Christian Yelich	RF
3	CF	Odubel Herrera	L	3	1B	Jesus Aguilar	1B
4	1B	Carlos Santana	S	4	3B	Travis Shaw	3B
5	SS	Scott Kingery	R	5	LF	Ryan Braun	LF
6	RF	Nick Williams	L	6	2B	Hernan Perez	2B
7	C	Jorge Alfaro	R	7	C	Manny Pina	C
8	P	Jake Arrieta	R	8	SS	Orlando Arcia	SS
9	3B	J.P. Crawford	L	9	P	Brent Suter	P

Broadcast Information:

First pitch: 8:10 p.m.
TV: NBCSP
Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

Game Notes:

The Phillies currently sit 2.5 games behind the Washington Nationals for the second Wild Card spot, and four games behind the Atlanta Braves for the division lead.
The Phillies are 11-6 this season against National League Central opponents.
Through 28 career at-bats against Arrieta, Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun has four singles, three home runs, three walks, 10 RBI and six strikeouts (.250/.323/.571). Herrera, meanwhile, is 2-4 lifetime against Suter with a double and solo home run (.500/.500/1.500).