With Eflin set to return, Votto, Reds come to town

When Zach Eflin takes the mound at Citizens Bank Park Friday evening, the Philadelphia Phillies will be getting their most consistent arm this season back after a short stint on the injured list. Since he’s last pitched, though, reliever Victor Arano had arthroscopic elbow surgery that may end his season, Andrew McCutchen suffered a torn ACL that will end his 2019 season and Seranthony Dominguez suffered an elbow injury that may require Tommy John Surgery.

The Phillies have won two games in a row and narrowly are ahead of the Atlanta Braves in the National League East, but they could sure use a strong performance from Eflin Friday as he returns from a minor back injury. He’ll have to do that against a Reds team that is in last place in the National League Central, but still has a plus 37 run differential.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of this evening’s Phillies-Reds tilt:

Phillies Lineup 

1. Cesar Hernandez, second base
2. Bryce Harper, right field
3. Jean Segura, shortstop
4. Rhys Hoskins, first base
5. J.T. Realmuto, catcher
6. Jay Bruce, left field
7. Scott Kingery, center field
8. Maikel Franco, third base
9. Zach Eflin, pitcher

Reds Lineup

1. Nick Senzel, center field
2. Joey Votto, first base
3. Eugenio Suarez, third base
4. Derek Dietrich, second base
5. Jesse Winker, left field
6. Yasiel Puig, right field
7. Jose Iglesias, shortstop
8. Tucker Barnhart, catcher
9. Tyler Mahle, pitcher

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Matchup

• Tyler Mahle (2-5, 4.26 ERA and 4.02 FIP) vs. Zach Eflin (5-5, 3.02 ERA and 4.35 FIP)
• In four starts at Citizens Bank Park in 2019, Zach Eflin is 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA.
• Friday will be Mahle’s first start in June. In six starts in May, Mahle went 2-2 with a 4.05 ERA.

Pregame Phillies Nuggets

1. Joey Votto, a career .308 hitter, is hitting just .246 with four home runs in 2019. A potential future Hall of Famer, Votto regressed to a .284 batting average with a 3.5 fWAR in 2018, after a 2017 season that may have been the best in his illustrious career. Thus far in 2019, he’s seen slippage even from where he was a season ago.
2. Jay Bruce spent the first eight-and-a-half seasons of his career as a member of the Reds. After hitting three home runs and seven RBIs in his first 11 at-bats as a Phillie, Jay Bruce will make his home debut at Citizens Bank Park Friday evening. In 143 career regular season at-bats at Citizens Bank Park, Bruce has a .294 batting average with 10 home runs and 27 RBIs.
3. Reds closer Raisel Iglesias has a 1-5 record in 2019, but he’s converted on 12 of 14 save attempts and has a 2.93 ERA in 2019.

Programming Information

• Friday June 7 at Citizens Bank Park
• 7:05 p.m. ET
• NBC 10
• SportsRadio 94 WIP

MORE FROM PHILLIES NATION

1. ‘The Phillies Got A Gem:’ Former Coaches Laud First-Round Pick Bryson Stott
2. Phillies Nuggets: What Type Of Season Is Madison Bumgarner Having? 
3. Phillies Nuggets: Cesar Hernandez Is Hitting His Way Into All-Star Picture
4. He’s Not A Lefty, But Marcus Stroman Remains An Intriguing Trade Candidate For The Phillies
5. Flashback: The Time Gabe Kapler Had To Be Pinch-Run For In The Middle Of A Home Run