Phillies, Eickhoff seek series split in Colorado on Easter

After dropping the first two games of their four-game set in Colorado against the Rockies, the Phillies broke through on Saturday night with an 8-5 win. Aaron Nola still looked a little shaky, but he ended up putting together arguably his best start of the season, allowing three runs over 5.2 innings while striking out nine. Bryce Harper’s three-run home run in the seventh gave the Phils a four-run lead and they would ride that to to the win.

On Easter Sunday, Jerad Eickhoff makes his return to the rotation following a Nick Pivetta demotion last week. Eickhoff is coming off of an offseason that included lingering numbness symptoms due to the effects of carpal tunnel surgery. Eickhoff started the season in Lehigh Valley, but debuted for the Phillies during their 14-3 win against the Mets on April 16th.  He tossed four innings of relief following Nick Pivetta, striking out six. If Eickhoff can replicate similar results to his 2015 and 2016 seasons in Philadelphia, he could be in the rotation to stay.

Meanwhile, it looks like Bryce Harper has been heating up at the plate. After going 3-for-21 in the previous five games leading into Friday night, he’s gone 6-for-12 with two doubles, a home run and three RBIs in the two games since. Rhys Hoskins is 6-for-11 over the last two after going hitless in the previous three.

Phillies Lineup

1. Andrew McCutchen (LF)
2. Cesar Hernandez (2B)
3. Bryce Harper (RF)
4. Rhys Hoskins (1B)
5. Maikel Franco (3B)
6. Roman Quinn (CF)
7. Phil Gosselin (SS)
8. Andrew Knapp (C)
9. Jerad Eickhoff (P)

Rockies Lineup

1. Charlie Blackmon (RF)
2. David Dahl (LF)
3. Nolan Arenado (3B)
4. Trevor Story (SS)
5. Ryan McMahon (1B)
6. Ian Desmond (CF)
7. Tony Wolters (C)
8. Garrett Hampson (2B)
9. Jon Gray (P)

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Matchup

• Jerad Eickhoff (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Jon Gray (1-3, 3.42 ERA)
• In two games (6.1 innings) during his career at Coors Field, Jerad Eickhoff has allowed nine runs on 10 hits. He is 1-2 with 8.00 ERA in four career games against the Rockies.
• Gray has made five starts in his career against the Phillies, posting a 2-2 record to go along with an ERA of 4.11. He gave up five runs in six innings during his only home start this season.

Pregame Phillies Nuggets

• West Chester native Phil Gosselin made a big impact in his Phillies starting debut on Saturday night. He hit a three-run double in the fourth to give the Phils a 4-3 lead. With Jean Segura and Scott Kingery sidelined, Gosselin will be seeing plenty of the field in the coming weeks.
• Nolan Arenado and Ian Desmond are both likely to return on Sunday after getting a rest day on Saturday night.
• Andrew McCutchen enters Sunday’s game with an 8-for-14 career mark against Rockies starter Jon Gray. Bryce Harper is 3-for-7 with a double while Rhys Hoskins is 1-for-4 with a home run.
• Rockies outfielder Charlier Blackmon is 3-for-9 in his career against Jerad Eickhoff.

Programming Information

• 3:10 p.m. on Sunday, April 21 at Coors Field
• NBC Sports Philadelphia
• SportsRadio 94 WIP