Velasquez, Gray square off as Phillies look to snap 5-game skid to Rockies

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

DENVER — In their third-to-last game before the Major League Baseball All-Star break, the Philadelphia Phillies (40-47) will send right-hander Vince Velasquez to the mound as they look to snap their five-game skid against the Colorado Rockies (39-46) Friday evening at Coors Field.

The game will feature a battle between 24-year-old right-handers, as the Rockies tab RHP Jon Gray for his 24th career starting nod.

Velasquez and Gray have near-identical numbers on the road and home, respectively this season. In seven starts away from Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies right-hander is 3-1 with a 5.02 ERA and 1.513 WHIP ratio over 37 2/3 innings. In six starts at Coors Field, Gray is 3-0 with a 5.05 ERA and 1.150 WHIP over 35 2/3 innings.

With a 99-74 (.572) all-time record against the Rockies, the Phillies look to become just the third non-NL West team to collect 100 wins against the 24-year franchise. The other two teams — the Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals — have 115 and 102 wins respectively all-time against the Rockies.

Starting Pitching Matchup:

Vince Velasquez — Age: 24;

• Last Start: July 3, 2016, vs. KCR: W, 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO, HR
• Career vs. COL: (0-0), 1 G, 4.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO, HR, 9.64 ERA

In his two starts since returning from the disabled list on June 27 (right biceps strain), Velasquez is 2-0 with a 1.64 ERA, 14 strikeouts and two walks in 11 innings, defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks and 2015 World Series champion Kansas City Royals.

Jon Gray — Age: 24;

• Last Start: July 3, 2016, at LAD: L, 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO, HR
• Career vs. PHI: N/A

Gray has recently experienced shoulder fatigue, exiting his June 22 start against the New York Yankees early after just four innings. He has logged three double-digit strikeout performances this season over 14 starts: April 22 vs. LAD (10), May 2 at SDP (11) and June 5 at SDP (12).

Starting Lineups:

Broadcast Information:

• First pitch: 8:10 p.m.
• TV: CSN
• Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

Game Notes:

• Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco is riding a seven-game hitting streak, batting .500/.536/1.000 with eight singles, a double, four home runs, two walks and eight RBIs over 28 plate appearances. Franco ranks near the top of most offensive categories for the month of July, such as trailing only Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (8.1) for offensive WAR, 7.0, and only Diamondbacks third baseman Jake Lamb (1.050) in slugging percentage, 1.000.
• The Phillies will look to avoid their first six-game losing streak to the Rockies since dropping as many games from May 30, 1999 to May 20, 2000.
• Active members of the Rockies are hitting .364/.417/.727 in 12 career plate appearances against Velasquez with a double, walk, home run and four RBIs. No active member of the Phillies has previously faced Gray through his 23 career starts.

Standings:

What's Next:

• Saturday, July 9, 2016: at Colorado Rockies, 8:40 p.m.
• Coors Field
  
• RHP Jerad Eickhoff (6-9, 3.30 ERA) vs. LHP Tyler Anderson (0-3, 3.03 ERA)
• TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP