Phillies welcome home Utley as Dodgers come to Philadelphia

By Matthew Mitchell, Sports Talk Philly Staff  

Philadelphia, PA — Amid a Chase Utley Homecoming, the Phillies look to continue their current four game winning streak. 

The focal point of Tuesday night’s 7:05 series opener between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citizen’s Bank Park will be Chase Utley returning to Philadelphia. It will be Utley’s first game against the team that he helped create a NL East dynasty with since being traded to the Dodgers last August. “The Man”, one of the most beloved Phillies of all time, will undoubtedly get an immense amount of brotherly love from the Phillies Phaithful tonight and throughout the entire series.

On the field, the Phillies look to continue their four game winning streak, which includes a three game sweep against the offensively powerful Colorado Rockies over the weekend. The Phils have been having a very good offensive month of August, averaging over six runs per game en route to an 8-4 record to start the month. Ryan Howard looks closer to his prime form than he has in a while, and the young arms in the rotation and bullpen have been quite effective as well. The hot start to August has put the Phillies in the talk for a Wild Card berth, as the enter Tuesday's game 6.5 games out of the second wild card spot. This is the closest they have been to a playoff spot at this point in the season since 2011, the last year they won the NL East. Lastly, the Phils look to avenge a rough showing in Los Angeles last Monday through Wednesday, when LA shut them down to take two out of the three games. 

The Dodgers come into Philadelphia having lost three out of their last four games, including two out of three to the Pittsburgh Pirates of the weekend.  Even with this short little bump in the road, the Dodgers are still only a half game back of the free-falling Giants for first place in the National League West Division. Since losing Clayton Kershaw over six weeks ago, the Dodgers have stepped it up to get into the position they are in now. Their pitching rotation has been one of the top rotations in baseball, while when Kershaw was healthy, he carried the team on his back (or shall we say left arm). The hope that the strong series the put together in LA last week against the Phillies can be copied on the other side of the country, as a series victory could very well have them flying to Cincinnati Thursday night as a first place ball club. 

Starting Pitching Matchup:

The Phillies will send right-handed flame thrower Vince Velasquez to the hill for the first of this three game set. Velasquez looks to rebound after his start last Tuesday in Los Angeles against his hometown Dodgers. He only made it through 4.1 while giving up a career high nine runs in front of about 100 family and friends. On the year, Velasquez comes into tonight with and 8-4 record and a 3.94 ERA.

Opposing Velasquez will be the same opponent he had when he last pitched exactly one week ago: Dodgers right-hander Kenta Maeda. Maeda, 11-7 with a 3.31 ERA entering tonight, looks to repeat his winning performance from last Tuesday, when he gave up three runs in five innings to get his 11^th  win of the 2016 season.

Kenta Maeda — Age: 28;

• Last Start: August 9 2016, vs. PHI: W, 5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 SO, 2 BB
• Career vs. Phillies: (1-0), 1 G, 5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO, 5.40 ERA

Vince Velasquez — Age: 24;

• Last Start: August 16, 2016, at LAD: L, 4.2 IP, 11 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 46 SO, 2 BB
• Career vs. Dodgers: (0-1), 1 G, 4.2 IP, 11 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 6 SO, 2 BB, 19.76 ERA

Starting Lineups:

Broadcast Information:

• First pitch: 7:05 p.m.
• TV: CSN
• Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

Game Notes:

• Tonight's game will be Chase Utley's first game in Philadelphia since being traded last August. Expect a massive standing ovation his first time at bat, and much brotherly love from Phils fans throughout the series.
• Rebound from last Tuesday: This pitching match-up is exactly the same as last Tuesday's game. Vince Velasquez hopes to rebound after after the worst start of his career in LA.
• Keep it going: The Phils have looked very impressive in August. The offensive has come alive and the pitching is holding out, despite multiple starters getting injured. Right now the Phillies are 6.5 out of the second wild card spot, but the next six games are crucial to determining if they can legitimately content come September. 

Standings:

What's Next:

• Wednesday, August 17, 2016: vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, 7:05 p.m.
• Citizens Bank Park
  
• LHP Scott Kazmir (9-6, 4.44 ERA) vs. RHP Jake Thompson (1-1, 8.68)
• TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP