By Brandon Apter, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Arlington, TX — Coming off of a doubleheader split with the Nationals, the Philadelphia Phillies head to Texas tonight to begin a three-game series with the Rangers.
Philadelphia comes into the game 3-9 during the month of May while the Rangers are off to a 5-0 start to their current eight-game homestand.
For the first time since the Cole Hamels trade, Jerad Eickhoff will face the team that drafted him back in 2011. The Phillies will have a tough task ahead of them, drawing Rangers right-hander Yu Darvish in game one of the series.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (14-21) | Texas Rangers (19-20) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Jerad Eickhoff | RHP | Yu Darvish | ||
| (0-3, 4.76 ERA) | (3-2, 2.96 ERA) | ||||
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (14-21) | Texas Rangers (19-20) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 1 | LF | Delino Deshields | R |
| 2 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 2 | SS | Elvis Andrus | R |
| 3 | LF | Aaron Altherr | R | 3 | RF | Nomar Mazara | L |
| 4 | DH | Tommy Joseph | L | 4 | DH | Jonathan Lucroy | R |
| 5 | RF | Michael Saunders | L | 5 | 2B | Roughned Odor | L |
| 6 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 6 | 1B | Mike Napoli | R |
| 7 | C | Cameron Rupp | R | 7 | 3B | Joey Gallo | L |
| 8 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S | 8 | C | Robinson Chirinos | R |
| 9 | 1B | Brock Stassi | L | 9 | CF | Jared Hoying | L |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 8:05 p.m.
- TV: The Comcast Network
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- After posting a 2.55 ERA through his first four starts, Phillies starter Jerad Eickhoff has surrendered 14 runs in his last three outings, spanning 15 innings.
- Jonathan Lucroy is the only Rangers hitter that has faced Eickhoff before, going 2-for-3.
- Phillies first baseman Tommy Joseph hit just .179 in 67 at-bats during the month of April. Since the start of May, he's slashing .400/.512/.886 with five doubles, four home runs and nine RBIs.
- During the month of May, the Phillies pitching staff as a whole is sporting a 5.43 ERA (third-worst in MLB) with the opposition hitting .284. Their offense is hitting .270, 17 points above their April average of .253.
- The Phillies will not see their former ace in this series. Cole Hamels has been on the disabled list with a right oblique strain since early May. As of May 3, he was projected to miss eight weeks, which puts him in a spot to return in July. In five starts before his injury, Cole was 2-0 with a 3.03 ERA.
What's Next:
- Wednesday, May 24th, 2017: at Texas Rangers, 8:05 p.m.
- Global Life Park in Arlington
- RHP Zach Eflin (0-0, 2.81 ERA) vs. RHP Andrew Cashner (0-3, 2.43 ERA)
- TV: CSN Philly
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
