By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
CINCINNATI — Coming off of their 4-3 victory to start the 2017 regular season, the Philadelphia Phillies (1-0) will look to repeat their success Wednesday evening in the second of a three-game set against the Cincinnati Reds (0-1) at Great American Ball Park.
Right-hander Jerad Eickhoff will take the mound to start his second full season in red pinstripes. He will oppose left-hander Brandon Finnegan, who is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA, 2.17 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 1.300 WHIP ratio in two career starts against the Phillies.
Weather will most likely play a factor. According to FOX19's Frank Marzullo, the main line of severe storms will arrive between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., with the possibility of producing "damaging wind, hail, and the chance of an isolated tornado."
Line of SEVERE STORMS will move inside the 275 loop between 6:30pm and 8pm. Here is a estimate on time. #FOX19NOW pic.twitter.com/cajUuI49Y7
— Frank Marzullo (@FOX19Frank) April 5, 2017
The Phillies look for their first 2-0 start to a season since 2011, when they swept their opening three-game series against the Houston Astros.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (1-0) | Cincinnati Reds (0-1) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Jerad Eickhoff | LHP | Brandon Finnegan | ||
| (2016: 11-14, 3.65 ERA) | (10-11, 3.98 ERA) | ||||
Eickhoff, 26, will make his first career appearance against the Reds. This spring, the Evansville, Indiana native struck out 21 batters in 19 2/3 innings. Last season, Eickhoff finished tied for third in the National League in starts (33) and fourth in walks per nine innings (1.92).
The Phillies right-hander said he made progress improving his changeup this spring. In his final Grapefruit League outing on March 30 against the New York Yankees, Eickhoff lasted just 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on four hits, two walks and 41 pitches (24 strikes).
Finnegan, 23, is coming off of his first full season as a starter, where in 31 starts he allowed nearly more walks (84) than runs (86) with a 1.360 WHIP ratio and 3.98 ERA. The left-hander made his major league debut at the age of 21 on Sept. 6, 2014 with the Kansas City Royals.
In July 2015, Finnegan was traded away from the eventual World Series champions — with southpaws John Lamb and Cody Reed — in exchange for Reds All-Star RHP Johnny Cueto.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (1-0) | Cincinnati Reds (0-1) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 1 | CF | Billy Hamilton | S |
| 2 | LF | Howie Kendrick | R | 2 | 2B | Jose Peraza | R |
| 3 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 3 | 1B | Joey Votto | L |
| 4 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 4 | LF | Adam Duvall | R |
| 5 | 1B | Tommy Joseph | R | 5 | 3B | Eugenio Suarez | R |
| 6 | RF | Aaron Altherr | R | 6 | RF | Scott Schebler | L |
| 7 | C | Cameron Rupp | R | 7 | SS | Zack Cozart | R |
| 8 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S | 8 | C | Tucker Barnhart | S |
| 9 | P | Jerad Eickhoff | R | 9 | P | Brandon Finnegan | L |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 7:10 p.m.
- TV: CSN
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- Outfielder Tyler Goeddel was claimed off waivers by the Reds Wednesday afternoon. Goeddel was designated for assignment on March 30 to clear a 40-man roster spot for Brock Stassi. Six days prior, the former Rule-5 pick was optioned to Double-A Reading. Goeddel will now report to Triple-A Louisville.
- The Phillies are 24-24 (.500) all-time at Great American Ball Park. Last season, they went 0-3 at the venue and 2-4 against the Reds overall.
- Opening Day Highlights:
- Second baseman Cesar Hernandez became the first Phillie to hit a leadoff home run to open a season since second baseman Heinie Mueller in 1938. The last MLB player overall to accomplish such feat was the Texas Rangers' Ian Kinsler on April 1, 2011.
- Starter Jeremy Hellickson became the first pitcher to hit an Opening Day triple since San Francisco Giants' RHP Jack Sanford in 1963. Sanford was a National League All-Star with the Phillies six seasons prior.
- Left fielder Howie Kendrick became the first Phillie with three hits during his Opening Day club debut since Jim Thome on March 31, 2003.
- Stassi made his big league debut with a two-out pinch-hit walk in the eighth inning. Stassi tied with teammate third baseman Maikel Franco for the sixth-most spring training RBIs among all players, 17.
- Despite allowing a two-run home run to second baseman Scooter Gennett in the ninth to shrink the Phillies' lead to one, closer Jeanmar Gomez went on to successfully notch his 39th career save.
What's Next:
- Thursday, April 6, 2017: at Cincinnati Reds, 12:35 p.m.
- Great American Ball Park
- RHP Clay Buchholz (2016: 8-10 4.78 ERA) vs. RHP Rookie Davis (MLB debut)
- TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
