Categories: Gameday

Nola, Phillies look to claim series win against Reds

Aaron Nola struck out seven and allowed only one earned run in six and a third innings in a no-decision against the Mets in his last outing. (Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)

The Philadelphia Phillies (72-65) are looking to go for a series victory against the Cincinnati Reds (64-75) behind their ace Aaron Nola.

The bullpen was the star in Tuesday’s game as six Phillies arms combined to throw six innings, surrendering only one earned run. The hope tonight is that they won’t be needed much since Nola is on the mound and is expected to be in much more control than Velasquez was the prior night.

After last night’s victory, the Phillies are now seven games over .500. It doesn’t sound like much, but it is when taken into account that it had taken them 12 tries to get back to that mark. The last time they were that far above .500 was June 16. They lost to Atlanta 15-1 that day in what was one of the first of many lopsided defeats of the summer. They still sit 2.5 games behind the Cubs for the last NL Wild Card spot.

Here’s everything you need to know for tonight’s matchup in the Queen City…

Reds Lineup

Josh Vanmeter, second base
Joey Votto, first base
Aristides Aquino, right field
Tucker Barnhart, catcher
Freddy Galvis, short stop
Nick Senzel, center field
Brian O’ Grady, left field
Trevor Bauer, pitcher
Alex Blandino, third base

Phillies Lineup

Corey Dickerson, left field
J.T. Realmuto, catcher
Bryce Harper, right field
Rhys Hoskins, first base
Jean Segura, shortstop
Scott Kingery, third base
Cesar Hernandez, second base
Adam Haseley, center field
Aaron Nola, pitcher

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Matchup

Aaron Nola (12-4, 3.45 ERA, 3.91 FIP, 3.80 xFIP) vs. Trevor Bauer (10-12, 4.53 ERA, 4.29 FIP, 4.39 xFIP)
Nola is 2-1 with a 2.86 ERA in his career against Cincinnati. In a June outing against the Reds in Philadelphia earlier this season, Nola went six and two thirds, allowing three earned runs on four hits.
In two career starts against the Phillies, Bauer is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA. His last start came in 2016. He pitched only four innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits.

Pregame Phillies Nuggets

Just like Nola, Bauer was due for regression after the incredible year he had in 2018. Not many could have predicted that he would have as tough a year as he would end up having. His ERA and FIP jumped from 2.21 and 2.44 to 4.53 and 4.29 respectively. In 2018, he ranked in the 91st percentile or higher in hard hit percentage (91st), expected-weighted on-base average or xwOBA (92nd) and expected slugging percentage or xSLG (92nd). In 2019, Bauer is in the 40th percentile in hard hit percentage, 47th in xwOBA and 54th in xSLG.

Reds rookie slugger Aristides Aquino was named both the National League Player of the Month and Rookie of the Month for August. Aquino has hit a home run in 13 of 33 appearances and has knocked in an RBI in 19 of 33 games. The 25-year-old was also named National League Player of the Week for 8-5/8-11.
Nola is 5-6 with a 3.90 ERA in his career during the month of September. Last September, he went 2-3 with a 3.72 ERA, but gave up nine home runs. To put that into perspective, Nola only gave up a total of eight home runs from April to August of last year.
Only four current Phillies hitters have faced Bauer in his career. Logan Morrison has the most success against him. He is 5-for-15 with two doubles against the 28-year-old.

Ticket IQ Programming Information

6:40 p.m. ET at Great American Ballpark
NBC Sports Philadelphia; ESPN+ (out-of-market, by subscription only)
SportsRadio 94 WIP; WTTM 1680

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Destiny Lugardo

A lifelong native of Philadelphia, Destiny has been a contributor for Phillies Nation since January 2019 and was named Deputy Editorial Director in May 2020.