Losers of nine out of their last 10 games, the Phillies (30-41) are looking to turn things around when they travel to Minnesota to take on a Twins (21-48) team that is also struggling.
If the Phils are to right the ship, they need to step things up offensively, as the lineup has tallied a lowly .202 batting average (worst in MLB) for the month of June.
The Phillies’ staff ERA this month (5.53) is second worst in the majors. The Twins’ staff ERA is the only one in MLB worse this month, standing at 5.83.
The Twins had lost five straight prior to a victory over the Yankees on Sunday.
Beginning on Tuesday night, the Phillies and Twins will lock it up for a three-game set.
Tuesday, 8:10pm Eastern. Aaron Nola (5-6, 3.51 ERA) vs Tyler Duffey (2-6, 5.56 ERA). The righty Nola has a 3-1 record with a 2.27 ERA and a .191 batting average against in seven road starts this season. Nola has never faced the Twins before. The right-handed Duffey sports a 1-3 record with a 6.67 ERA in five home starts this season. The 25-year-old was a 5th round draft choice of Minnesota in 2012.
Wednesday, 8:10pm Eastern. Adam Morgan (1-6, 6.49 ERA) vs Kyle Gibson (0-5, 6.06 ERA). Morgan, who was a 3rd round draft pick of the Phils in 2011, has a 1-1 record with a 5.40 ERA in four road starts this season. Morgan hasn’t notched a win since May 10th. He has a 7.33 ERA over his last five outings. Gibson, who was the Twins’ 1st round pick in 2009, has a 0-3 and a 4.01 ERA in four home starts this season. Gibson has a 9.00 ERA in his last three starts.
Thursday, 1:10pm Eastern. Jerad Eickhoff (4-9, 3.49 ERA) vs Tommy Milone (0-1, 5.79 ERA). On the road this season, the righty Eickhoff has a 1-5 record with a 5.23 ERA and a .292 batting average against. He has a 2.13 ERA over his last four starts. Milone has thrown six scoreless innings against the Phillies in his career. The lefty sported a 1.66 ERA in seven starts at Triple-A since his demotion in May this year, making his return to the Twins in this game.
Former Phillies prospect Trevor May has a 0-2 record with a 6.08 ERA in 29 relief appearances for the Twins this year. May has never faced the Phils in the regular season. He was sent to Minnesota in the Ben Revere trade. The 26-year-old sports a 2.51 ERA in 14 days games and a 10.22 ERA in 15 night games.
Twins infielder Eduardo Nunez’s .321 batting average ranks as 5th best in the America League.
First baseman Joe Mauer is a .341 hitter in 12 career games against the Phillies. The 33-year-old sports a .290 average with two homers and 12 RBI in 35 games at home this season.
Phils third baseman Maikel Franco is batting .192 with three extra-base hits in 15 June games. On the road this season, Franco has notched a .296/.352/.556 slash line in 29 games.
Center fielder Odubel Herrera is batting .342 in 42 night games this season. The 24-year-old sports a .390 batting average with runners in scoring position this season.
Reliever Hector Neris has posted a 7.71 ERA over his last 10 appearances after sporting a 1.29 ERA through his first 26 games this season. The right-hander has a 1.93 ERA in 18 road games in 2016.
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