It’s the start of a series between the teams from the Keystone State on the diamond in the Steel City. The Philadelphia Phillies are on the road for the first game of a three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates Friday night. Philadelphia closed out a four-game series at home against the Dodgers Thursday afternoon, earning a split with a 7-6 victory. Pittsburgh was upended 6-5 in the rubber game of their three-game road set against the Cardinals Wednesday afternoon. The Phillies took six of the seven meetings last season between the teams, including two of three here in the last series between the teams July 6-8, 2018.
Philadelphia Phillies Hoping to Stay Afloat Despite Injuries
Philadelphia managed to earn a split of their four-game series with the Dodgers as they rallied and then hung on to get the victory Thursday. The Phillies entered Thursday night third in the NL East, eight games behind the Braves: they were tied with the Brewers for the second wild card spot. Philadelphia got two hits from Bryce Harper (two runs, two RBI) and Jean Segura (run, RBI) in the contest. Aaron Nola didn’t factor in the decision as he allowed four runs on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts over five innings. Ranger Suarez (2-0) earned the win with 1.1 scoreless innings of relief: he allowed a hit with no walks and a strikeout. Hector Neris allowed a run on one hit with no walks and a strikeout in the ninth but recorded his 18th save.
For the first time in The Show, @adamhaseley7 goes deep! #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/qpEvI6RjYX
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) July 18, 2019
Jake Arrieta is on the mound as he makes his 20th start of the season for the Phillies in this contest. He comes in 8-7 with a 4.54 ERA, a 1.451 WHIP, 42 walks and 87 strikeouts over 113 innings of work on the year. Arrieta didn’t factor in the decision in his last start, which came Sunday at home against the Nationals. He threw five innings, allowing a run on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts in a 4-3 Philadelphia walk-off victory. Arrieta is 1-1 with a 5.87 ERA, a 1.70 WHIP, three walks and 12 strikeouts over 15.1 innings in his last three starts. He is 12-6 with a 2.99 ERA, a 0.973 WHIP, 35 walks and 132 strikeouts over 135.2 innings in 22 career starts against the Pirates. Arrieta is 5-4 with a 3.94 ERA, a 1.125 WHIP, 16 walks and 59 strikeouts over 64 innings in 11 career starts at PNC Park.
Pittsburgh Pirates Slumping in Second Half
Pittsburgh dropped to 1-5 in the second half of the season as they were upended in the finale of their set with the Cardinals Wednesday afternoon. The Pirates entered Thursday fourth in the NL Central, 6.5 games behind the Cubs: they were four games behind the Brewers for the second wild card spot. Kevin Newman finished with three hits for Pittsburgh while Chris Archer (run, RBI) and Bryan Reynolds (three RBI) each added two. Archer didn’t factor in the decision as he allowed three runs on five hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. Francisco Liriano (4-2) took the loss as he allowed two runs on one hit with a walk while getting only one out in relief.
So clutch.#ROYnolds pic.twitter.com/r31pqKyToH
— Pirates (@Pirates) July 17, 2019
Jordan Lyles is on the mound to log his 16th start of the season for the Pirates in this series opener. He comes in 5-6 with a 5.16 ERA, a 1.40 WHIP, 31 walks and 80 strikeouts over 75 innings of work this season. Lyles dropped to 0-5 in his last six starts as he took the loss Saturday on the road against the Cubs. He lasted only two-thirds of an inning, allowing seven runs on four hits with four walks and two strikeouts in a 10-4 Pirates defeat. Lyles is 0-3 with a 14.34 ERA, a 2.44 WHIP, seven walks and 14 strikeouts over 10.2 innings in his last three starts. He is 1-1 with one save, a 3.22 ERA, a 1.349 WHIP, 13 walks and 25 strikeouts over 36.1 innings of work in 10 career appearances, six starts, against the Phillies. Lyles is 2-6 with a 6.29 ERA, a 1.54 WHIP, 19 walks and 57 strikeouts over 63 innings in 14 career outings, 12 starts, at PNC Park.
Team Trends
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- Phillies are 7-3 in their last 10 vs. National League Central
- Phillies are 7-3 in their last 10 vs. a team with a losing record
- Pirates are 1-5 in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning record
- Pirates are 1-5 in their last 6 games following an off day
- Pirates are 1-5 in their last 6 overall
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