Phillies’ Hellickson set for potential final start with club against Teheran, Braves

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

PHILADELPHIA — In what could be his final start in red pinstripes, ahead of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, veteran RHP Jeremy Hellickson will take the mound for the Philadelphia Phillies (35-64) while in opposition of RHP Julio Teheran and the Atlanta Braves (48-52) in Friday evening's series opener at Citizens Bank Park.

UPDATE: Citing weather conditions, the Phillies have scratched Hellickson as a precaution. Right-hander Jake Thompson will start in his place. According to FOXSports' Ken Rosenthal, there are "active talks" surrounding a potential deal for Hellickson.

Right-hander Jesen Therrien was promoted from Triple-A Lehigh Valley after posting a combined 1.41 ERA with 65 strikeouts and nine walks in 39 games with the IronPigs and Fightin Phils. Therrien replaces recently-traded RHP Pat Neshek on the roster.

Manager Pete Mackanin's club is coming off of a 9-0 shut out of the American League-best Houston Astros on Wednesday. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the rout was the first time since 1934 that a Major League team 30 games or more under .500 won by a margin of at least nine runs against an opponent 30 games or more over .500. The Phillies offense recorded nine extra base hits in the victory, two being a pair of home runs by catcher Cameron Rupp, his 8th and 9th. Right-handed starter Aaron Nola improved to 8-6 with a 3.17 ERA, tossing six shutout innings while striking out a career-high 10 batters.

The four-game series against the Braves will conclude the Phillies' 10-game homestand, before embarking on an eight-game, three-series road stint against outfielder Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, recently-traded RHP Pat Neshek and the Colorado Rockies, and lastly the Braves for two games at the newly-opened SunTrust Park.

Starting Pitching Matchup:

Teheran Career vs. PHI: 7-4, 2.79 ERA, 15 G, 14 GS, 93 2/3 IP, 80 H, 34 R, 29 ER, 6 HR, 18 BB, 72 SO, 1.046 WHIP

Teheran, 26, last faced on the Phillies on Sept. 27, where in a four-inning no-decision outing he allowed six runs on 10 hits, two walks and three strikeouts. Over his last four starts since July 2, Teheran has tossed at least six innings while allowing no more than three runs.

The Colombia native owns a 5-1 win-loss record, 1.55 ERA, 32-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a 0.885 WHIP ratio in six starts and 40 2/3 innings lifetime at Citizens Bank Park. Phillies batters have hit just .200/.241/.280 against the right-hander in these starts with only seven extra base hits spanning 159 plate appearances.

Season Splits, By Month:

• April: 5 GS, 2-1, 3.38 ERA, 29 1/3 IP, 22 SO, 15 BB, .248/.347/.314
• May: 6 GS, 2-3, 6.12 ERA, 32 1/3 IP, 25 SO, 11 BB, .271/.336/.549
• June: 5 GS, 2-2, 6.35 ERA, 28 1/3 IP, 15 SO, 8 BB, .306/.353/.559
• July: 4 GS, 1-2, 2.45 ERA, 25 2/3 IP, 24 SO, 11 BB, .202/.282/.354

Hellickson Career vs. ATL: 2-0, 3.21 ERA, 5 G, 5 GS, 28 IP, 22 H, 11 R, 10 ER, 2 HR, 6 BB, 20 SO, 1.000 WHIP

Hellickson, 30, is coming off of a shaky home outing against the Milwaukee Brewers on July 22, where he allowed six runs (all earned) on seven hits, two walks and six strikeouts through five innings. Among qualified starters in the month of July, the eight-year veteran's 6.04 ERA is the 10th-worst in the majors and the sixth-worst in the National League.

The Des Moines, Iowa native's only start against the Braves this season resulted in a winning decision, home on April 21. In seven strong innings, Hellickson allowed just two runs on three hits and no walks, while punching out five batters spanning 90 total pitches.

Season Splits, By Month:

• April: 5 GS, 4-0, 1.80 ERA, 30 IP, 11 SO, 3 BB, .194/.228/.287
• May: 6 GS, 1-3, 7.04 ERA, 30 2/3 IP, 13 SO, 12 BB, .292/.363/.608
• June: 5 GS, 0-2, 4.30 ERA, 29 1/3 IP, 21 SO, 10 BB, .286/.346/.509
• July: 4 GS, 1-0, 6.04 ERA, 22 1/3 IP, 20 SO, 5 BB, .267/.308/.581

Starting Lineups:

Broadcast Information:

• First pitch: 7:05 p.m.
• TV: CSN
• Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

Game Notes:

• The Phillies have won five of seven meetings with the Braves so far this season, but have dropped two straight, outmatched 17-2 in scoring. While taking the first five matchups, the Phillies outscored and outhit their division rivals 27-13 and 52-33, respectively.
• Trade candidate Hellickson is 18-15 with a 4.09 ERA in 52 starts with the Phillies since 2016. On Friday, he will look for career win No. 10 at Citizens Bank Park, having gone 9-6 with a 3.87 ERA in 26 career starts at the venue thus far.
• Injury Report:
  • Braves: RHP Jason Motte (back strain, July 14), third baseman Adonis Garcia (sprained finger, June 7).
  • Phillies: INF/OF Howie Kendrick (left hand soreness, July 26), outfielder Daniel Nava (hamstring strain, July 26), RHP Clay Buchholz (forearm surgery, April 18), RHP Casey Fien (rotator cuff strain, June 21)
• In 53 career at-bats against Hellickson, Braves right fielder Nick Markakis is 10-53 with a double, two home runs, seven RBIs and three walks. Rupp is the most tenured active Phillie to have faced Teheran, going 8-22 with a pair of doubles and RBIs in 22 at-bats.

What's Next:

• Saturday, July 29, 2017: vs. Atlanta Braves, 7:05 p.m.
• Citizens Bank Park
• LHP Sean Newcomb (1-5, 4.81 ERA) vs. RHP Jerad Eickhoff (2-7, 4.71 ERA)
• TV: NBC 10; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP