Smyly tabbed for second start against Giants

Following a disappointing weekend against the Braves, the Philadelphia Phillies (55-50) play host to the San Francisco Giants (54-52) for a three-game set beginning tonight at Citizens Bank Park. Both the Phillies and Giants are in the midst of the National League Wild Card race. Entering play on Tuesday, the Phillies are a game behind the Cubs and Cardinals for the last spot. Meanwhile, the Giants sit 2.5 back. Philadelphia could still realistically put together a run and win the NL East seeing that they are just six game behind the Braves, but the Giants lone hope is a Wild Card spot with the Dodgers 14 games ahead of them in the National League West Division. Tuesday’s match-up is the first of seven meetings between the Phillies and Giants this season. After the three-game set in Philadelphia, the Phillies will visit the Giants out west for four games from August 8-11.

The Phillies will be relying heavily on newcomer Drew Smyly to play stopper against the surging Giants, who have gone 13-4 since the All-Star break and won 19 of their last 24. The Phillies signed Smyly during their series in Pittsburgh earlier in July and he looked pretty strong in his first start. In six innings of work, his longest start since May 24, the 30-year-old southpaw allowed just one run on four hits while striking out eight and walking two. He’s reached the six inning mark in just two of his last 10 starts.

Philadelphia’s lineup will be under heavy pressure in this series to produce. The Giants team they are hosting is second in Major League Baseball in runs (137) during the month of July and they’re first in the National League in doubles (59). Phillies starting pitchers, aside from Aaron Nola, haven’t been good, so the offense will need to be at their best if they plan to win this series. Although J.T. Realmuto had a big hit against the Braves on Sunday, he is hitting just .227 (5-for-22) over the last seven days. Bryce Harper hasn’t fared much better, tallying just three hits in his last 18 at-bats.

Here’s how the Phillies and Giants will line up for Tuesday’s series opener:

Phillies Lineup

1. Scott Kingery (CF)
2. Jean Segura (SS)
3. Bryce Harper (RF)
4. Rhys Hoskins (1B)
5. J.T. Realmuto (C)
6. Cesar Hernandez (2B)
7. Maikel Franco (3B)
8. Adam Haseley (LF)
9. Drew Smyly (P)

Giants Lineup

1. Donovan Solano (2B)
2. Mike Yastrzemski (LF)
3. Austin Slater (RF)
4. Buster Posey (C)
5. Kevin Pillar (CF)
6. Brandon Crawford (SS)
7. Tyler Austin (1B)
8. Zach Greene (3B)
9. Tyler Beede (P)

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Matchup

• Drew Smyly (1-5, 7.69 ERA) vs. Tyler Beede (3-4, 4.85 ERA)
• Smyly has appeared in 170 games during his six-year career dating back to 2012, but has never faced the Giants. That being said, Giants’ center fielder Kevin Pillar has faced Smyly 12 times and is 0-12 with a strikeout. Donovan Solano is 0-2 while injured infielder Evan Longoria is 3-3 off Smyly with a homer and two doubles.
• San Francisco right-hander hasn’t faced the Phillies yet in his young career. The 26-year-old most recently started against the Cubs on July 24 in a losing effort. He gave up four runs on 10 hits in 5.2 innings. Overall in four July starts, he’s 2-1 with a 2.63 ERA.

Pregame Phillies Nuggets

• Phillies shortstop Jean Segura is in the lineup, despite a scary collision between him and Ronald Acuna Jr. during Sunday’s game that caused him to be helped off the field.
• The Giants were 12 games below .500 at the end of June, but now find themselves right in the thick of a wild card race, winning 19 of 24 and 13 of their last 17. Philadelphia is sporting a 22-28 record since May 29 after starting the season 33-22.
• San Francisco has 96 extra-base hits during the month of July. The Phillies have 67.
• Philadelphia’s pitching staff as a whole is sporting a 4.76 ERA in 21 games during the month of July, good for 17th in the majors. The Giants stand in sixth with a team ERA of 3.65. Phillies pitchers have issued 26 more walks this month compared to San Francisco.
• The Phillies have won six straight home games against the Giants dating back to June 2017, outscoring the Giants 46-18 in that span, but San Francisco has most recent bragging rights having swept the Phillies at AT&T Park last June.

Programming Information

• 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30 at Citizens Bank Park
• NBC Sports Philadelphia, 
• SportsRadio 94 WIP