With the Mets' magic number at three to clinch the NL East, the Phillies can officially spoil it for the Nationals this weekend.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (57-96) | Washington Nationals (78-74) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Jerad Eickhoff | RHP | Jordan Zimmermann | ||
| (1-3, 3.16 ERA) | (13-8, 3.49 ERA) | ||||
Jerad Eickhoff gets the ball to open up a four game series against Washington tonight. The last two starts have been really strong for Eickhoff, especially his last against Atlanta where he kept them off the boards for seven innings, striking out five. While considered one of the lessor names received for Cole Hamels and Jake Diekman, Eickhoff has really run with his opportunity and looks to have a promising future in the Phillies' rotation for the time being.
Opposing him is soon to be free agent, Jordan Zimmermann. Zimmermann is having a pretty nice season for a starter looking for a nice payday this winter and has been durable as always for Washington. His last start came against Miami, pitching six innings of two run ball and striking out seven. Lifetime, he's 6-7 vs. the Phillies with a 3.80 ERA.
Cody Asche (.400) and Freddy Galvis (.333) have done pretty well against Zimmermann in their respective careers but it's anybody's guess for the rest of the line up which ranges from mediocre to poor. It's Eickhoff's first time against the Nats.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (57-96) | Washington Nationals (78-74) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S | 1 | 2B | Anthony Rendon | R |
| 2 | LF | Aaron Altherr | L | 2 | 3B | Yunel Escobar | R |
| 3 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 3 | RF | Bryce Harper | L |
| 4 | 1B | Darin Ruf | R | 4 | LF | Jayson Werth | R |
| 5 | 3B | Cody Asche | L | 5 | 1B | Clint Robinson | L |
| 6 | 2B | Andres Blanco | S | 6 | SS | Ian Desmond | R |
| 7 | RF | Brian Bogusevic | L | 7 | CF | Michael Taylor | R |
| 8 | C | Cameron Rupp | R | 8 | C | Wilson Ramos | R |
| 9 | SP | Jerad Eickhoff | R | 9 | SP | Jordan Zimmermann | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First-pitch: 7:10 pm EST
- TV: CSN, MLBN
- Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, 1680 WTTM
What's Next:
Friday, September 26, 2015: at Washington Nationals, 4:05 PM ET
- RHP Aaron Nola (6-2, 3.84 ERA) vs. Stephen Strasburg (10-7, 3.81 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, 1680 WTTM
Greg Vince (@GregVince) of Philliedelphia.com.
