By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Behind RHP Zach Eflin, the Philadelphia Phillies (58-46) will aim for their fifth series split of the season as they take on RHP Luis Castillo and the Cincinnati Reds (47-58) in Sunday's matinee series finale at Great American Ball Park. The Phillies are 17-13-4 in 34 series overall this season.
The Phillies fell for the second straight game against the Reds on Saturday, 6-2, as Asdrubal Cabrera made his club while starting at shortstop. Rhys Hoskins' two-run home run, his 21st, accounted for all the Phillies' run production. Cabrera went 0-4 with a strikeout, partly in opposition of his former New York Mets teammate, Matt Harvey. Phillies starter Vince Velasquez allowed two runs on six hits, five walks and four strikeouts spanning five innings and 94 pitches. Reliever Tommy Hunter was credited with the loss, his first as a Phillie, as he surrendered two runs in the sixth inning to break up the 2-2 tie.
Cabrera will make his second start as a Phillie on Tuesday, batting second at second base behind leadoff hitter and his former Cleveland Indians teammate, Carlos Santana. Cesar Hernandez has been battling an foot injury since fouling a ball off it earlier this month.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (58-46) | Cincinnati Reds (47-58) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Zach Eflin | RHP | Luis Castillo | ||
| (7-2, 3.41 ERA) | (5-8, 5.30 ERA) | ||||
RHP Zach Eflin, Age: 24
- Last Five Starts: 3-0, 3.38 ERA, 26 2/3 IP, 25 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 5 HR, 6 BB, 22 SO, 1.163 WHIP
- 2018 vs. CIN: N/A
- Career vs. CIN: 0-1, 12.60 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 5 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 4 HR, BB, 3 SO, 2.000 WHIP
- Career at Great American Ball Park: N/A
Eflin has not suffered a losing decision in eight straight starts, combining for a 6-0 record, 2.78 ERA, 39 strikeouts in 45 1/3 innings, and a .231/.276/.385 opposing slash.
The right-hander matched his career low for innings pitched in a start in his most recent outing on July 23, 2 2/3 innings (3 R, 3 ER). Eflin first tossed as few innings in his MLB debut against the Toronto Blue Jays on June 14, 2016 (9 R, 8 ER).
RHP Luis Castillo, Age: 25
- Last Five Starts: 0-0, 3.96 ERA, 25 IP, 27 H, 12 R, 11 ER, HR, 4 BB, 20 SO, 1.240 WHIP
- 2018 vs. PHI: 0-0, 4.50 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 HR, 4 SO, 0.833 WHIP
- Career vs. PHI: 0-0, 4.50 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 HR, 4 SO, 0.833 WHIP
- Career at Great American Ball Park: 4-7, 3.74 ERA, 16 G, 16 GS, 96 1/3 IP, 74 H, 41 R, 40 ER, 15 HR, 32 BB, 104 SO, 1.100 WHIP
This season, Castillo is 3-3 with a 4.03 ERA, 55-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 1.188 WHIP at home (51 1/3 innings in nine starts), as opposed to 2-5 with a 6.44 ERA, 46-21 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 1.517 WHIP on the road (57 1/3 innings in 12 starts).
The Bani, Dominican Republic, native's first and only career appearance against the Phillies came in a no-decision on April 11 at Citizens Bank Park. Hernandez and J.P. Crawford homered off Castillo en route to the Phillies' 4-3 win in 12 innings.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (58-46) | Cincinnati Reds (47-58) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 1B | Carlos Santana | S | 1 | SS | Jose Peraza | R |
| 2 | 2B | Asdrubal Cabrera | S | 2 | 2B | Scooter Gennett | L |
| 3 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 3 | 1B | Joey Votto | L |
| 4 | LF | Rhys Hoskins | R | 4 | 3B | Eugenio Suarez | R |
| 5 | RF | Nick Williams | L | 5 | CF | Mason Williams | L |
| 6 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 6 | LF | Adam Duvall | R |
| 7 | SS | Scott Kingery | R | 7 | RF | Phil Ervin | R |
| 8 | C | Jorge Alfaro | R | 8 | C | Curt Casali | R |
| 9 | P | Zach Eflin | R | 9 | P | Luis Castillo | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 1:10 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- Since the Atlanta Braves have lost four straight, the Phillies have not lost their 2 1/2-game advantage in the division since dropping two straight to the Reds. The club ranks fourth overall in the National League standings, two games behind recently-acquired LHP Cole Hamels and the Chicago Cubs.
- The Phillies are 25-28 all-time at Great American Ball Park since the venue opened in 2003.
- Hoskins is amid an eight-game hitting streak, slashing .371/.421/1.057 with 10 runs scored, three doubles, seven home runs, 13 RBI, three walks and eight strikeouts spanning 38 plate appearances.
- Hoskins will bat cleanup in Sunday's finale. This season, he is slashing .303/.449/.515 batting fourth (99 at-bats), as opposed to .244/.333/.508 batting second (246 at-bats).
- The Phillies have won four of six games against the Reds this season, outscoring them 31-25.
- A loss on Sunday would give the Phillies six straight series defeats at Great American Ball Park since April 15-17, 2013.
What's Next:
Monday, July 30, 2018: at Boston Red Sox, 7:10 p.m.
- Fenway Park, Boston, Mass.
- RHP Aaron Nola (12-3, 2.42 ERA) vs. LHP David Price (11-6, 4.17 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP, ESPN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
