By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Off to their best home start since 1981 — 8-1 — the Philadelphia Phillies (13-7) will look for their third series sweep in a Sunday matinee opposite RHP Trevor Williams and the Pittsburgh Pirates (12-9) at Citizens Bank Park.
Manager Gabe Kapler's squad secured the series win on Saturday with a 6-2 victory behind Aaron Nola, who allowed just two runs through seven solid innings. Trailing 2-0 in the sixth, Rhys Hoskins produced a go-ahead and game-winning three-run home run to left. He later added a RBI single in the eighth, while Scott Kingery and Jorge Alfaro followed with a RBI single and RBI groundout, respectively. Southpaw Hoby Milner was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley following the game.
The Phillies enter Sunday trailing the New York Mets atop the National League East by just one game. In the National League, the club has the third-best winning percentage and the second-best run differential (+32).
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Pittsburgh Pirates (12-9) | Philadelphia Phillies (13-7) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Trevor Williams | RHP | Nick Pivetta | ||
| (3-1, 1.93 ERA) | (1-0, 2.49 ERA) | ||||
RHP Trevor Williams, Age: 25
- Career vs. PHI: 0-1, 4.76 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 5 2/3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 2 BB, 0 SO, 1.059 WHIP
- Career at Citizens Bank Park: N/A
The right-hander's first and only career appearance against the Phillies came in a 7-2 loss on May 19 at PNC Park. The Phillies outhit the Pirates 9-3 that evening and produced a pair of doubles against the right-hander.
Williams has surrendered two runs or less in six straight starts, and in nine of his last 10 outings dating back to August 23.
RHP Nick Pivetta, Age: 25
- Career vs. PIT: N/A
- Career at Citizens Bank Park: 5-3, 4.70 ERA, 14 G, 14 GS, 76 2/3 IP, 74 H, 42 R, 40 ER, 15 HR, 20 BB, 92 SO, 1.226 WHIP
Pivetta has thrown six starts starts without surrendering a home run. Only four other qualified starting pitchers have yet to surrender a home run in 2018: Johnny Cueto and Chris Stratton of the San Francisco Giants, Rick Porcello of the Boston Red Sox, and Luis Severino of the New York Yankees.
The right-hander has surrendered three earned runs or less in seven straight starts since Sept. 18.
Starting Lineups:
| Pittsburgh Pirates (12-9) | Philadelphia Phillies (13-7) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Sean Rodriguez | R | 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S |
| 2 | RF | Gregory Polanco | L | 2 | 1B | Carlos Santana | S |
| 3 | CF | Starling Marte | R | 3 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L |
| 4 | LF | Corey Dickerson | L | 4 | LF | Rhys Hoskins | R |
| 5 | 1B | David Freese | R | 5 | RF | Nick Williams | L |
| 6 | 3B | Colin Moran | L | 6 | 3B | Scott Kingery | R |
| 7 | SS | Jordy Mercer | R | 7 | C | Andrew Knapp | S |
| 8 | C | Elias Diaz | R | 8 | P | Nick Pivetta | R |
| 9 | P | Trevor Williams | R | 9 | SS | J.P. Crawford | L |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 1:35 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- The Phillies have won 10 of their last 12 games, and 12 of their last 15. The club has won six straight games at Citizens Bank Park, scoring six runs or more in four of the contests.
- Phillies starting pitching has surrendered the fewest home runs this season, 6. It has also surrendered the second-fewest walks (28), only bested by the Los Angeles Dodgers, albeit them having played one less game (25). The Phillies staff has surrendered three earned runs or fewer in 11 straight starts and in 18 of 20 games this season.
- While no active Pirate has previously faced Pivetta, four Phillies have opposed Williams thus far in their careers: Aaron Altherr (0-3, RBI), Maikel Franco (0-2), Cesar Hernandez (1-2, RBI, BB) and Odubel Herrera (1-3). Franco is out of Sunday's lineup in favor of Kingery, batting just .194/.235/.226 over his last eight games.
- Herrera has reached base safely in a career-best 22 straight games.
- With Saturday's win, the Phillies secured their series win against the Pirates since July 2-4, 2013, and their first home series win against them since July 29-31, 2011 — which was also the last time the Phillies swept the National League Central-affiliated opponent.
What's Next:
- Monday, April 23, 2018: Off-day
- Tuesday, April 24, 2018: vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, 7:05 p.m.
- Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pa.
- LHP Robbie Ray (2-0, 4.98 ERA) vs. RHP Vince Velasquez (1-2, 3.80 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP+; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
