By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Seeking their first six-game win streak since April 2017, and their first consecutive three-game series sweeps since May 2016, the Philadelphia Phillies (8-5) will send RHP Ben Lively to the mound opposite rookie LHP Ryan Yarbrough and the Tampa Bay Rays (3-11) Sunday afternoon at Tropicana Field. Yarbrough will be the first of many Rays relievers in their scheduled "bullpen day."
The Phillies powered past the Rays in RHP Jake Arrieta's second start with the club on Saturday, 9-4. Seven of the nine Phillies in the starting lineup collected a RBI, including Scott Kingery and J.P. Crawford, producing two each. Crawford hit his second home run of the season and career. Arrieta tossed 6 2/3 innings and allowed two earned runs on seven hits, two walks and 88 pitches (57 strikes). Right-handed reliever Victor Arano struck out three batters in 1 1/3 relief innings, maintaining his perfect 0.00 ERA spanning 5 1/3 innings and five appearances this season.
Following the game, the Phillies will travel slightly north back to SunTrust Park, where they opened the season against the Atlanta Braves, March 29-31. Entering Sunday, the Phillies lead the Braves by a 1/2 game and trail only the New York Mets by three games for the division lead. The Phillies are currently positioned ahead of the Braves for the two National League Wild Card postseason spots.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (8-5) | Tampa Bay Rays (3-11) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Ben Lively | LHP | Ryan Yarbrough | ||
| (0-1, 5.56 ERA) | (0-0, 2.25 ERA) | ||||
RHP Ben Lively, Age: 26
- Career vs. TBR: N/A
- Career at Tropicana Field: N/A
Lively will make his third career interleague start and his first against the Rays. Thus far against American League club's, the right-hander is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA, 4-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 1.200 WHIP in 10 innings. Lively has thrown 5 2/3 innings in each of his two starts this season and has struck out 12 batters, while allowing seven runs (all earned), on 15 hits and three walks.
The only Rays member to have previously faced Lively is Denard Span, who is 1-5 with a walk (.200/.333/.200) against the right-hander.
LHP Ryan Yarbrough, Age: 26
- Career vs. PHI: N/A
- Career at Tropicana Field: 0-0, 2.25 ERA, 1 G, 0 GS, 4 IP, 4 H, R, ER, 0 HR, 3 BB, 3 SO, 1.750 WHIP
Yarbrough will make his first career start and fourth career appearance overall. Thus far this season, the rookie southpaw is 0-0 with a 2.25 ERA, 6-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 1.750 WHIP, allowing seven hits and seven walks through three appearances and eight innings.
The Lakeland, Florida, native was drafted in the fourth round of the 2014 amateur drat by the Seattle Mariners and was dealt to Tampa Bay on Jan. 11, 2017, as part of the four-player transaction that sent LHP Drew Smyly to Seattle. Smyly never appeared with the Mariners, however, due to elbow woes that led to needing Tommy John surgery in June.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (8-5) | Tampa Bay Rays (3-11) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | DH | Cesar Hernandez | S | 1 | DH | Denard Span | L |
| 2 | 1B | Carlos Santana | S | 2 | RF | Carlos Gomez | R |
| 3 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 3 | CF | Kevin Kiermaier | L |
| 4 | LF | Rhys Hoskins | R | 4 | 1B | C.J. Cron | R |
| 5 | 2B | Scott Kingery | R | 5 | LF | Mallex Smith | L |
| 6 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 6 | 3B | Matt Duffy | R |
| 7 | RF | Aaron Altherr | R | 7 | 2B | Joey Wendle | L |
| 8 | C | Andrew Knapp | S | 8 | C | Jesus Sucre | R |
| 9 | SS | Pedro Florimon | S | 9 | SS | Daniel Robertson | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 1:10 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- With a win in the finale, the Phillies would even their all-time regular season record at Tropicana Field, 6-6.
- Despite hitting safely in seven straight games, Nick Williams sits in Sunday's matinee series finale. Kingery is also riding a five-game hit streak, batting .286/.304/.714 over the stretch with a pair of home runs and eight RBI.
- Since April 3, Phillies starting pitching has the lowest ERA in the National League (2.69) and the second-lowest in MLB, trailing only the Kansas City Royals (2.50). The Phillies pitching staff collectively this season has the fewest HR/9.0 IP (0.53) and lead the National League in fielding independent pitching (FIP), 3.20.
- The Phillies captured their second-ever road series win against the Rays on Saturday, out of four such series overall. The last time the club won a series at Tropicana Field was during its visit first to the venue, July 18-20, 1999.
What's Next:
- Monday, April 16, 2018: at Atlanta Braves, 7:35 p.m.
- SunTrust Park, Atlanta, Ga.
- RHP Aaron Nola (1-0, 1.96 ERA) vs. RHP Mike Foltynewicz (1-1, 2.93 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP+; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
