By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
The Philadelphia Phillies (35-32) will look to rebound in the second of a three-game series at Miller Park, as Zach Eflin opposes Junior Guerra and the Milwaukee Brewers (42-27) in a Saturday matinee.
For the third time in just over a week's span, the Brewers routed the Phillies by at least an eight-run margin, while scoring at least 12 runs. Four team errors — two from middle infielder Scott Kingery — and a struggling Jake Arrieta culminated into a 13-2 defeat during Friday's series opener. Arrieta tossed less than four innings for the third time in 13 starts, and allowed at least four earned runs in three consecutive outings. The right-hander has a 7.98 ERA in June, after posting the first sub-1.00 ERA within a calendar month for a Phillies pitcher since Cliff Lee in August 2011. Second baseman Cesar Hernandez went 3-3 with a RBI double, while Odubel Herrera went 2-4 with a solo, ninth-inning home run. Utility player Jesmuel Valentin pitched the eighth and allowed three runs on two hits, while striking out one batter.
The Brewers have outscored the Phillies 40-13 through four games so far this season. In 2017, Milwaukee scored 27 runs spanning six meetings between both clubs.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (35-32) | Milwaukee Brewers (42-27) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Zach Eflin | RHP | Junior Guerra | ||
| (3-2, 3.63 ERA) | (3-4, 2.71 ERA) | ||||
RHP Zach Eflin, Age: 24
- Career vs. MIL: 1-0, 3.00 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 1 BB, 9 SO, 0.667 WHIP
- Career at Miller Park: N/A
Eflin has surrendered just three extra-base hits — 11 hits overall — over his last two starts, both winning decisions against the Chicago Cubs (June 5) and Brewers (June 10).
RHP Junior Guerra, Age: 33
- Career vs. PHI: 0-1, 7.20 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 10 IP, 11 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 3 HR, 5 BB, 6 SO, 1.600 WHIP
- Career at Miller Park: 6-5, 2.82 ERA, 29 G, 23 GS, 137 1/3 IP, 108 H, 48 R, 43 ER, 17 HR, 55 BB, 124 SO, 1.187 WHIP
Guerra has recorded four straight quality starts, albeit going just 0-1 despite a 2.25 ERA in 24 innings over this stretch.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (35-32) | Milwaukee Brewers (42-27) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 1 | 1B | Eric Thames | L |
| 2 | LF | Rhys Hoskins | R | 2 | RF | Christian Yelich | L |
| 3 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 3 | CF | Lorenzo Cain | R |
| 4 | 1B | Carlos Santana | S | 4 | 3B | Travis Shaw | L |
| 5 | SS | Scott Kingery | R | 5 | LF | Ryan Braun | R |
| 6 | RF | Nick Williams | L | 6 | 2B | Jonathan Villar | S |
| 7 | C | Andrew Knapp | S | 7 | C | Erik Kratz | R |
| 8 | P | Zach Eflin | R | 8 | SS | Orlando Arcia | R |
| 9 | 3B | J.P. Crawford | L | 9 | P | Junior Guerra | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 4:10 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- Hernandez is 3-5 lifetime against Guerra with a home run, walk and two RBI (.600/.667/1.200). Christian Yelich, Jesus Aguilar and Ryan Braun, meanwhile, are just a combined 1-10 against Eflin with a double, two RBI, two walks and six strikeouts.
- Since last Saturday, Rhys Hoskins leads the Phillies in OPS (.979), with a .286/.360/.619 slash, two home runs and eight RBI over 25 plate appearances. Arrieta (8.31 ERA) and Nick Pivetta (10.80) have struggled over the same stretch, while Aaron Nola (1.35), Vince Velasquez (2.70) and Eflin (3.00) have succeeded, all with at least a 8.10 K/9 and a BB/9 no greater than 2.70.
What's Next:
Sunday, June 17, 2018: at Milwaukee Brewers, 2:10 p.m.
- Miller Park, Milwaukee, Wis.
- RHP Aaron Nola (8-2, 2.27 ERA) vs. RHP Chase Anderson (5-5, 4.13 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
