Categories: Gameday

Phillies look to move on from last night’s horrendous defeat

Zach Eflin will make his third start of the season against the Marlins tonight. (Destiny Lugardo/Phillies Nation)

It may be best for the Phillies to completely erase last night’s game from their memory. Nothing positive can be taken from a 19-11 loss to the National League East’s last place team.

Luckily for the team, last night’s game was just one defeat. It may have felt like five one run losses in extra innings all wrapped in one, but in reality, the team had only lost a half game in the Wild Card chase. They are 2.5 games back with 35 to play and still have a chance of winning the series against Miami.

The team will send Zach Eflin to the mound. He was less than impressive in his first start since returning to the rotation. He went three and two thirds innings, allowing seven hits and three earned runs in a no-decision against the Padres. It’s unrealistic to expect Eflin to return to his early season form but at the very best, he could be an innings eater during the crucial September stretch.

Here’s everything you need to know for tonight’s 6:10 game against the Marlins…

Marlins Lineup

John Berti, short stop
Neil Walker, first base
Starlin Castro, third base
Harold Ramirez, right field
Isan Díaz, second base
Austin Dean, left field
Jorge Alfaro, catcher
Lewis Brinson, center field
Jordan Yamamoto, pitcher

Phillies Lineup

César Hernández, second base
Rhys Hoskins, first base
J.T. Realmuto, catcher
Corey Dickerson, left field
Jean Segura, short stop
Brad Miller, third base
Scott Kingery, center field
Adam Haseley, right field
Zach Eflin, pitcher

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Starting Pitching Matchup

Zach Eflin (7-11, 4.57 ERA, 4.81 FIP, 4.89 xFIP) vs. Jordan Yamamoto (4-4, 4.31 ERA, 4.62 FIP, 4.86 xFIP)
In two April starts against the Marlins, Eflin went 0-2 with a 4.74 ERA and 5.06 FIP, giving up 25 hits and 10 earned runs in 19 innings. In his career, Eflin is 3-2 with a 4.47 ERA against the Fish.
Yamamoto made his first and only career start against the Phillies on June 29. He went five innings, allowing two earned runs while striking out seven en route to victory.

Pregame Phillies Nuggets

Last night’s starter Vince Velasquez had this to say about his performance in Friday night’s devastating defeat:

I take full responsibility for the outcome of the game. As a pitcher you want that run support. What more do you want than a 7-zero lead and you end up giving it up…I’m embarrassed that I couldn’t hold the lead and do my job as a pitcher and help the team on my behalf. I think as a team, we have to continue what we’re doing offensively. I’m flat-out embarrassed on my end. There should be no excuses for that.

It will be interesting to see who stays and who goes amongst the crop of pitchers that were expected to take a step forward this season. Eflin will be arbitration eligible for the first time in 2020 while Velasquez will be entering his second year of eligibility next season. He made 2.2 million this season in year 1 of eligibility. Nick Pivetta will be arbitration eligible for the first time in 2021. He will make league minimum next season if he is tendered a contract. Pivetta was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley earlier today.
Miami’s Brian Anderson has excellent career numbers against Eflin, slashing .357/.400/.571 in 14 career plate appearances.
J.T. Realmuto has put up good numbers in his old home ballpark this season. In 26 plate appearances at Marlins Park, Realmuto is slashing .301/.347/.417 with three RBI. He went 2-4 in last night’s game with two walks, two doubles and an RBI.

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