By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
With a doubleheader imminent and RHP Vince Velasquez (right arm contusion) on the disabled list, the Philadelphia Phillies (49-37) will turn to recently-recalled RHP Drew Anderson for his first big league start — against fellow rookie RHP Nick Kingham and the Pittsburgh Pirates (40-48) — in Sunday's series finale matinee at PNC Park.
The Phillies edged the Pirates, 3-2, in Saturday's contest, thanks to catcher Jorge Alfaro's go-ahead RBI double in the seventh — breaking a 2-2 tie — as well as a strong outings on the mound from starter Jake Arrieta , and relievers Seranthony Dominguez and Victor Arano. Arrieta improved to 6-6, allowing two runs in seven frames with eight strikeouts. Dominguez recorded his 10th hold, while Arano picked up his second save.
A Phillies win on Sunday would secure the following:
- Fiftieth win in their 87th game; the Phillies did not win 50 games last season until their 133rd game on August 31 (46-game difference).
- Seventh series sweep of 2018 — their most both before the All-Star Break (7) and in an overall season (7) since 2009 and 2012, respectively.
- First-ever series sweep at PNC Park since the venue opened in 2001.
- First road series sweep against the Pirates since July 10-12, 1998 at Three Rivers Stadium. Mark Leiter Jr.'s father saved the second game of the series in the 1-0 win.
- First-ever season sweep of the Pirates; both franchises first squared off in 1887 — 131 years ago — as the Philadelphia Quakers and Pittsburgh Alleghenys. The Phillies have won all six meetings against the Pirates so far in 2018, outscoring manager Clint Hurdle's club, 38-12.
The first-place Phillies have won seven of their last eight series and have the most come-from-behind wins among all teams this season, 28, notes ESPN's John Brickley. Five of the club's last seven wins have been decided by one run. Anderson will look to help the Phillies to their season-high seventh straight win on Sunday.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (49-37) | Pittsburgh Pirates (40-48) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Drew Anderson | RHP | Nick Kingham | ||
| (Triple-A: 5-3, 4.15 ERA) | (2-4, 4.70 ERA) | ||||
RHP Drew Anderson, Age: 24
- 2018 vs. PIT: N/A
- Career vs. PIT: N/A
- Career at PNC Park: N/A
Anderson posted a 23.14 ERA and 3.000 WHIP in two relief appearances and 2 1/3 innings last August, opposite the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (August 1) and Chicago Cubs (August 26). This season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, the Reno, Nevada, native went 5-3 with a 4.15 ERA, 1.135 WHIP and 41 strikeouts spanning 52 innings and 10 starts.
RHP Nick Kingham, Age: 26
- 2018 vs. PHI: N/A
- Career vs. PHI: N/A
- Career at PNC Park: 1-1, 2.89 ERA, 3 G, 3 GS, 18 2/3 IP, 14 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 HR, 3 BB, 18 SO, 0.911 WHIP
Kingham — the Pirates' No. 11-ranked prospect — will make his eighth career start, his first against the Phillies and his fourth overall at PNC Park. The former fourth-round selection of the 2010 amateur draft, like Anderson in 2012's 21st round (Galena), was drafted out of a Nevada high school (Sierra Vista). Kingham has four straight losing decisions since May 19.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (49-37) | Pittsburgh Pirates (40-48) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | C | Andrew Knapp | S | 1 | 1B | Josh Bell | S |
| 2 | LF | Rhys Hoskins | R | 2 | CF | Starling Marte | R |
| 3 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 3 | LF | Corey Dickerson | L |
| 4 | 1B | Carlos Santana | S | 4 | 3B | Colin Moran | L |
| 5 | RF | Nick Williams | L | 5 | C | Francisco Cervelli | R |
| 6 | SS | Scott Kingery | R | 6 | RF | Austin Meadows | L |
| 7 | 2B | Jesmuel Valentin | S | 7 | 2B | Josh Harrison | R |
| 8 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 8 | SS | Jordy Mercer | R |
| 9 | P | Drew Anderson | R | 9 | P | Nick Kingham | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 1:35 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- The Phillies did not gain ground over the Atlanta Braves in the division and Wild Card races on Saturday, as the Braves defeated the National League-best Milwaukee Brewers, 5-1, snapping their four-game skid.
- Anderson starting on Sunday sets up the red-hot Aaron Nola and Zach Eflin to both take the mound against the New York Mets in Monday's doubleheader.
- The Phillies are on pace to finish the season with 92 wins and 70 losses. The club will play nine games over the next eight days leading up the the All-Star break.
Andrew Knapp is the first catcher to hit leadoff for the Phillies in the live-ball era, which began in 1920, according to Elias.
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) July 8, 2018
What's Next:
Monday, July 9, 2018: at New York Mets
- Citi Field, Queens, N.Y.
- Game 1, 4:10 p.m.: RHP Zach Eflin (7-2, 2.97 ERA) vs. RHP Zack Wheeler (2-6, 4.36 ERA)
- Game 2, TBD (April 2 Makeup): RHP Aaron Nola (11-2, 2.41 ERA) vs. RHP Corey Oswalt (0-1, 7.94 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
