Phillies Send Jonathan Pettibone To Open Series With MLB-Best Pirates

With a day off yesterday after getting it handed to them by the Dodgers, the Phillies will take on the Pittsburgh Pirates in a three-game matchup before heading back home. 9 1/2 games out in the NL East, the Phillies will send out Jonathan Pettibone (3-3, 4.17 ERA) to take on the Pirates. Brandon Cumpton (0-0, 3.60 ERA) will be making a spot start for Jeff Locke, who was scratched this afternoon.

Jonathan Pettibone has not won a game since May 14th against Cleveland and is looking to turn it around. In his last time out, on Thursday against the Dodgers, Pettibone allowed three earned runs early on before retiring the last 15 batters he faced. Pettibone was handed the no-decision after walking one and striking out four hitters. Over his last three, Pettibone is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA and has just six strike outs to go against his three walks. Pettibone will be making his second start against the Pirates (his first was his MLB debut back on April 22). In that outing Pettibone allowed two earned on six hits through 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision.

With Jeff Locke (7-1, 2.06 ERA) a scratch this afternoon due to extensive warm up on Sunday. He was set to enter in the 15th inning against the Brewers in a relief appearance, but the Pirates ended up winning in 14. With Locke scratched the Bucs have called up Brandon Cumpton from Triple-A Indianapolis. Cumpton will be making his third start of the year tonight. Cumpton made two starts in mid-June and allowed four runs, two walks and 12 hits over 10 innings. He struck out eight over the two no-decisions. The right-hander Cumpton will be making his first start against the Phillies.

Game Notes: 

• The Pirates (51-30) boast the best record in baseball, three of those 51 came against the Phillies back in April.
• Jonathan Pettibone made his MLB debut against the Pirates back on April 22nd.
• Being five games under .500, the Phillies are 9 1/2 games back as they enter PNC Park, a field that they have not faired well in.

Phillies lineup:

1. Michael Young 3B
2. Chase Utley 2B
3. Jimmy Rollins SS
4. Ryan Howard 1B
5. Domonic Brown LF
6. Delmon Young RF
7. Ben Revere CF
8. Carlos Ruiz C
9. Jonathan Pettibone P.

Pirates lineup:

1. Starling Marte LF
2. Russell Martin C
3. Andrew McCutchen CF
4. Garrett Jones 1B
5. Pedro Alvarez 3B
6. Neil Walker 2B
7. Jordy Mercer SS
8. Travis Snider RF
9. Brandon Cumpton P.

First Pitch Forecast: Partly Cloudy – 79° – 15% PoP

TV: CSN
Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT.

Erik Seybold is a writer for Philliedelphia. Follow him on Twitter.