By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Set to start their seven-game, six-day homestand, the Philadelphia Phillies (65-52) will take on the Major League Baseball-best Boston Red Sox (85-35) in the first of a two-game home set Tuesday evening at Citizens Bank Park. Right-hander Nick Pivetta — who has 25 strikeouts over his last 18 innings — will oppose 2016 American League Cy Young Award winner, RHP Rick Porcello.
The Phillies are coming off of a six-game road trip in which they went 2-4, outscored 23-15. In falling 9-3 to their former shortstop Freddy Galvis — who hit a grand slam — and the National League-worst San Diego Padres on Sunday, the Phillies allowed a decade-plus-long high six stolen bases. Newly-acquired first baseman Justin Bour made his club debut as a pinch-hitter, and singled to right center with two outs in the ninth. Starter Jake Arrieta fell to 9-7, allowing five runs on eight hits, two walks and four strikeouts spanning five innings and 81 pitches (53 strikes).
The Phillies and Red Sox split their two-game set July 30-31 at Fenway Park, with the Phillies outscoring manager Alex Cora's squad 4-3. If the Phillies sweep this series, they will capture their first season series victory over the Red Sox since their franchise-best, 102-win season in 2011.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Boston Red Sox (85-35) | Philadelphia Phillies (65-52) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Rick Porcello | RHP | Nick Pivetta | ||
| (14-5, 4.17 ERA) | (7-9, 4.51 ERA) | ||||
RHP Rick Porcello, Age: 29
- 2018 vs. PHI: N/A
- Career vs. PHI: 1-1, 5.50 ERA, 3 G, 3 GS, 18 IP, 23 H, 11 R, 11 ER, HR, 5 BB, 11 SO, 1.556 WHIP
- Career at Citizens Bank Park: 0-1, 4.50 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 6 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, HR, 2 BB, 4 SO, 1.333 WHIP
Porcello, native to Morristown, New Jersey, will face the Phillies for the fourth time in his 10-season career on Wednesday. Porcello allowed seven runs to the Toronto Blue Jays in his most recent start, but threw a one-hit complete game against the New York Yankees during his prior start.
RHP Nick Pivetta, Age: 25
- 2018 vs. BOS: N/A
- Career vs. BOS: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 SO, 0.857 WHIP
- Career at Citizens Bank Park: 8-8, 4.73 ERA, 25 G, 24 GS, 131.1 IP 128 H, 73 R, 69 ER, 24 HR, 35 BB, 163 SO, 1.241 WHIP
Through six career interleague starts, Pivetta is 2-2 with a 2.97 ERA, 46-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 0.963 WHIP spanning 36 1/3 innings. The right-hander's last start against the American League came in a 5-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles, away on July 12.
Starting Lineups:
| Boston Red Sox (85-35) | Philadelphia Phillies (65-52) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | CF | Mookie Betts | R | 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S |
| 2 | LF | Andrew Benintendi | L | 2 | RF | Nick Williams | L |
| 3 | 1B | Mitch Moreland | L | 3 | SS | Asdrubal Cabrera | S |
| 4 | RF | J.D. Martinez | R | 4 | LF | Rhys Hoskins | R |
| 5 | SS | Xander Bogaerts | R | 5 | 1B | Carlos Santana | S |
| 6 | 3B | Rafael Devers | L | 6 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R |
| 7 | 2B | Eduardo Nunez | R | 7 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L |
| 8 | C | Sandy Leon | S | 8 | C | Jorge Alfaro | R |
| 9 | P | Rick Porcello | R | 9 | P | Nick Pivetta | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 7:05 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP, MLBN
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- With the Atlanta Braves sweeping their doubleheader against the Miami Marlins on Monday, the Phillies now trail the division by one game, but sit atop the National League Wild Card standings with 45 games to go.
This is the first morning the Phillies do not have at least a share of first place in the NL East since July 5 . . .
— Bob Vetrone Jr. (@BoopStats) August 14, 2018
- The Phillies have dropped eight of their last 10 games against the Red Sox since April 9, 2015, outscored 48-27 and outhit 104-88. The Phillies are outhitting the Red Sox 20-13 this season.
- The Phillies have won 10 of their 15 games against American League opponents this season.
- Second baseman Cesar Hernandez has a six-game hitting streak, slashing .304/.448/.435 with three runs scored, six singles, one home run, one RBI, six walks and six strikeouts through 29 plate appearances.
- This season's MLB leader in batting average — right fielder Mookie Betts (.350) — is slashing .333/.333/.333 through three career plate appearances all-time against Pivetta. Phillies infielder Asdrubal Cabrera is 17-56 lifetime against Porcello with three doubles, two RBI, three walks and seven strikeouts (.304/.361/.357). First baseman Carlos Santana, meanwhile, has three career home runs opposite the right-hander spanning 49 plate appearances.
What's Next:
Wednesday, August 15, 2018: vs. Boston Red Sox, 7:05 p.m.
- Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pa.
- RHP Nathan Eovaldi (5-4, 3.74 ERA) vs. RHP Vince Velasquez (8-9, 3.98 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP, ESPN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
