Series Preview: Phillies at ChiSox, Aug. 23-24

The Phillies (58-67) hit the road to begin a two-game set in Chicago against the White Sox (59-64) beginning on Tuesday night. It marks the team’s first trip to U.S. Cellular Field since 2004. The teams last met in 2013 in Philadelphia with the Phils winning two of three.

Both teams are not in contention and have their eyes set on the future as the season approaches its final month. Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups and other notable stats from this interleague series.

Tuesday, 8:10PM. Jake Thompson (1-2, 8.79 ERA) vs. Carlos Rodon (3-8, 4.26 ERA). Opponents are averaging more than six runs per game in Thompson’s three big league starts to date. The 22-year-old righty has walked nine while striking out 11 in 14 1/3 innings. In 10 starts at home, Rodon is 1-4 with a 4.67 ERA and a .289 batting average against. The 23-year-old left-hander has a 2-6 record with a 4.52 ERA in 13 night games. Rodon is 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA in three August starts.

Wednesday, 8:10PM. Jerad Eickhoff (8-12, 3.91 ERA) vs. James Shields (5-15, 5.98 ERA). On the road, Eickhoff sports a 3-7 record with a 4.70 ERA in 12 starts this season. Eickhoff has a 4.20 ERA in seven starts since the All-Star break. In five career regular season starts against the Phillies, Shields has a 3-0 record with a 4.70 ERA. In 15 home starts this season, the 34-year-old right-hander sports a 4-9 record with a 5.21 ERA. Phils OF Peter Bourjos is 5-for-10 (.500 avg) with a double and a homer in his career against Shields.

Phillies OF Odubel Herrera is batting .296 with eight home runs and 26 RBI in 62 road games this year.

Cesar Hernandez is batting .329 in 44 games since June. In 59 road games this year, the switch-hitting Hernandez has a .321 batting average.

Ryan Howard has a .378 average with five homers and 13 RBI in 11 games this month. In three career games against the White Sox, Howard is 3-for-11 (.273 avg) with a home run.

ChiSox closer David Robertson is 2-0 with 16 saves and a 2.70 ERA in 23 home outings this season. Robertson has a 5.17 ERA in 16 games since the All-Star break.

First baseman Jose Abreu is batting .315 with 11 home runs and 34 RBI in 56 home games this season. In 18 games this month, the 29-year-old sports a .361 average with five home runs and 11 RBI.

Third baseman Todd Frazier is a .260 hitter in 28 regular season games against the Phils. In 56 home games this season, Frazier is batting .221. His 31 homers rank fifth best in the American League.

Phils team ERA since the All-Star break- 5.03 (28th in MLB)
ChiSox team ERA since the All-Star break- 4.22 (17th in MLB)