By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
One day before his 25th birthday, Philadelphia Phillies (5-2) RHP Zach Eflin will take the mound in Sunday's matinee series finale opposite the Minnesota Twins (5-2) and RHP Jose Berrios at Citizens Bank Park.
On Saturday, Phillies starter RHP Jake Arrieta was denied his 100th career win, while Twins starter RHP Michael Pineda earned his first win since June 30, 2017, in the 6-2 contest — the Phillies' first home loss. Three Twins homered — Max Kepler, Willians Astudillo and Eddie Rosario — as the Phillies were denied at least five runs scored for the first time this season. The club had the bases loaded in both the sixth and eighth innings, but only scored one run; in total, they left seven runners on base and were 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position. Rhys Hoskins hit his second home run, a solo shot that produced his team-leading 11th RBI. Rosario's home run was a three-run blast against RHP Seranthony Dominguez in the ninth that bounced off the right field foul pole.
The Phillies look for their second series win, having swept the season-opening set against the Atlanta Braves, and split their most recent series against the Washington Nationals. The club will also play for their third-ever series win against the Twins out of seven overall, as well as their first-ever series win against them at home (three overall). The Phillies are 9-11 against the Twins all-time since first meeting June 21-23, 2002.
The game is the first “single game scheduled to start at 1:05 p.m. on a Sunday” in Philadelphia since May 28, 1967, at Connie Mack Stadium, MLB.com's Todd Zolecki and Elias Sports notes.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Minnesota Twins (5-2) | Philadelphia Phillies (5-2) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Jose Berrios | RHP | Zach Eflin | ||
| (1-0, 1.84 ERA) | (1-0, 0.00 ERA) | ||||
RHP Jose Berrios, Age: 24
- Career vs. PHI: N/A
- Career at Citizens Bank Park: N/A
Berrios struggled against National League opponents last season; in five starts, he allowed 18 runs (17 earned) and six home runs over 25 1/3 innings. The right-hander earned his first All-Star nod in 2018, and would later end the season leading MLB in complete games (2) and shutouts (1).
The Puerto Rico native has made two strong starts thus far in 2019 against the Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals, going 1-0 with a 1.84 ERA, allowing only three runs and one walk while punching out 14 batters spanning 14 2/3 innings. His 14.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio is the best in the majors. Berrios was the first Twins pitcher to have 10-plus strikeouts on Opening Day since 1960.
RHP Zach Eflin, Age: 24
- Career vs. MIN: N/A
- Career at Citizens Bank Park: 9-8, 4.38 ERA, 21 G, 21 GS, 125 1/3 IP, 123 H, 65 R, 61 ER, 24 HR, 30 BB, 106 SO, 1.221 WHIP
Against 150 batters faced in his career during interleague play, Eflin has allowed 27 runs (25) earned, on 47 hits, six home runs and nine walks over 31 1/3 innings, en route to a 7.18 ERA and 1.787 WHIP. The right-hander was 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA in three interleague starts last season, however, with just three walks allowed and 19 strikeouts over 18 2/3 innings.
Eflin shined in his season debut against the Nationals on Tuesday, tossing five scoreless innings with just three hits and one walk allowed. He struck out nine of 19 faced batters en route to his 16th career victory.
Starting Lineups:
| Minnesota Twins (5-2) | Philadelphia Phillies (5-2) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | RF | Max Kepler | L | 1 | LF | Andrew McCutchen | R |
| 2 | 1B | C.J. Cron | R | 2 | SS | Jean Segura | R |
| 3 | LF | Eddie Rosario | L | 3 | RF | Bryce Harper | L |
| 4 | 3B | Marwin Gonzalez | S | 4 | 1B | Rhys Hoskins | R |
| 5 | 2B | Jonathan Schoop | R | 5 | C | J.T. Realmuto | R |
| 6 | SS | Ehire Adrianza | S | 6 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L |
| 7 | C | Jason Castro | L | 7 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S |
| 8 | CF | Byron Buxton | R | 8 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R |
| 9 | P | Jose Berrios | R | 9 | P | Zach Eflin | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 1:05 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- Phillies left fielder Andrew McCutchen has led off the game with a hit or walk in four of club's first seven games, notes NBC Sports Philadelphia's Jim Salisbury.
- Phillies right fielder Bryce Harper has reached base in each of the club's seven games this season, slashing .417/.563/.917 with six runs scored, four singles, three doubles, three home runs, five RBI, eight walks (three intentional) and nine strikeouts spanning 24 at-bats.
- The Phillies have the third-best run differential in the majors (+19), bested only by the Los Angeles Dodgers (+30) and Seattle Mariners (+22). The reigning World Series champion Boston Red Sox have the worst (-27).
- 2019 Phillies Interleague Schedule: vs. Twins (April 5-7), vs. DET (April 30-May 1), at KC (May 10-12), at DET (July 23-24), vs. CWS (August 2-4), at BOS (August 20-21), vs. BOS (Sept. 14-15), & at CLE (Sept. 20-22).
- The only Phillie to have previously opposed Berrios is shortstop Jean Segura. In three at-bats, Segura is 1-3 with a pair of strikeouts (.333/.333/.333). Meanwhile, the only Twin to have previously faced Eflin is second baseman Jonathan Schoop, who is hitless in three at-bats with one strikeout (.000/.000/.000).
What's Next:
- Monday, April 8, 2019: vs. Washington Nationals, 7:05 p.m.
- Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pa.
- RHP Anibal Sanchez (0-0, 9.00 ERA) vs. RHP Vince Velasquez (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
