Having been sidelined since June 22 with right ankle inflammation, Philadelphia Phillies (42-67) second baseman Chase Utley returns to the starting lineup tonight against familiar opposing pitcher from Game 2 of the 2008 World Series, right hander James Shields, and the San Diego Padres (52-57).
Southpaw Adam Loewen was also called-up by the Phillies today. In 33 appearances with the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs this season, Loewen was 1-3 with a 2.15 ERA.
Loewen, 31, originally appeared in the major leagues with the Baltimore Orioles from 2006-2008 as a pitcher, but later transitioned into an outfielder, appearing in 14 games with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011. The Phillies signed Loewen to a two-year minor league deal, with the intent for him to make a comeback on the mound, on April 16, 2014.
Utley will bat in the leadoff position tonight for the first time since 2004, and the third time overall in his career, according to Jordan Hall of CSNPhilly.com.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (42-67) | San Diego Padres (52-57) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Aaron Nola | RHP | James Shields | ||
| (2-1, 3.38 ERA) | (8-4, 3.74 ERA) | ||||
Nola, 22, has a 0.964 WHIP ratio this season over three starts, allowing 15 hits and three walks in 18 and two-thirds innings. The right hander has received a total of 23 runs of offensive support over his last two starts, after falling 1-0 in his impressive major-league debut on July 21.
Shields, 33, is 2-0 with a 6.35 ERA in three career regular season starts against the Phillies. This season, the ten-year veteran has a 152/49 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 139 and two-thirds innings on the mound.
Along with teammate Matt Kemp, the 2011 American League All-Star with the Tampa Bay Rays has been reportedly placed on revocable waivers.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (42-67) | San Diego Padres (52-57) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Chase Utley | L | 1 | SS | Alexi Amarista | L |
| 2 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 2 | 3B | Yangervis Solarte | S |
| 3 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 3 | RF | Matt Kemp | R |
| 4 | 1B | Ryan Howard | L | 4 | LF | Justin Upton | R |
| 5 | RF | Domonic Brown | L | 5 | 1B | Yonder Alonso | L |
| 6 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S | 6 | 2B | Jedd Gyorko | R |
| 7 | LF | Cody Asche | L | 7 | C | Derek Norris | R |
| 8 | C | Cameron Rupp | R | 8 | CF | Melvin Upton Jr. | R |
| 9 | P | Aaron Nola | R | 9 | P | James Shields | R |
Game Notes:
- Chase Utley needs 251 more plate appearances this season for his $15 million vesting option to kick-in for 2016. With only 53 games left to be played, Utley would need to average a little under five plate appearances per game to reach that mark. According to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki, the six-time All-Star is expected to only play around four times per week, however.
- The Phillies currently have five players with multi-game hitting streaks: center fielder Odubel Herrera (9), third baseman Maikel Franco (8), utility infielder Cesar Hernandez (7), corner outfielder Jeff Francoeur (6), and catcher Cameron Rupp (3).
- All-time at PETCO Park, the Phillies are 27-10 (.730). Over the last ten games played at the venue, however, they are 4-6, having been outhit 77-83 and outscored 34-38.
Broadcast Information:
- First-pitch: 10:10 pm EST
- TV: CSN
- Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
What's Next:
- Saturday, August 8, 2015: at San Diego Padres, 8:40 pm
- LHP Adam Morgan (2-3, 4.46 ERA) vs. RHP Tyson Ross (8-8, 3.37 ERA)
- TV: CSN, MLBN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
- Sunday, August 9, 2015: at San Diego Padres, 4:10 pm
- RHP Jerome Williams (3-8, 6.09 ERA) vs. RHP Andrew Cashner (4-11, 4.08 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
Matt Rappa (@mattrappasports) is managing editor of Philliedelphia.com.
