Writer: Matt Rappa

Phillies get first look at Chris Tillman as they seek to avoid fourth consecutive road series sweep

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Having not scored a run over their past 21 innings, in addition to having lost 11 consecutive games on the road and seven overall, the Philadelphia Phillies (22-43) will seek to avoid being swept for the fourth consecutive time on the road this evening.

Philadelphia will oppose right hander Chris Tillman and the Baltimore Orioles (32-31), who despite being fourth in their division, are three games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the American League East.


Starting Pitching Matchup:

Philadelphia Phillies (22-43) Baltimore Orioles (32-31)
RHP Jerome Williams RHP Chris Tillman
(3-6, 5.71 ERA) (4-7, 5.68 ERA)

Williams, 33, has struggled over his past three starts in 15.1 innings, having allowed a combined 26 hits, five home runs and 12 runs overall to yield a 7.04 ERA. Opposing batters of the Rockies, Giants and Reds have hit .371/.397/.629 against him over this same stretch.

The right hander is (4-2) with a 4.71 ERA in his career against the Orioles over 36.1 innings. He currently ranks last this season in WHIP for all qualifying pitchers at 1.630. WHIP is a ratio that divides the sum of total walks and hits allowed by total innings pitched.

Tillman, 27, has never faced the Phillies as a team, but outfielders Ben Revere and Jeff Francoeur have faced him in the past while with other clubs. In one career at-bat against the right hander, as a Minnesota Twin on July 16, 2012, Revere doubled in the bottom of the first inning. Francoeur on the other hand is 0-4 lifetime against Tillman with a walk and two strikeouts.

The 2013 American League All-Star native to Anaheim, California is 2-0 this month in two starts with a 4.50 ERA over 12.0 innings. This is a nice rebound for Tillman, who was 0-5 in May with a 5.03 ERA in six starts and 34.0 innings.

Read more here: http://www.bnd.com/sports/article21542739.html#storylink=cpy

Starting Lineups:

Philadelphia Phillies (22-43) Baltimore Orioles (32-31)
  Position Projected Bats   Position Projected Bats
1 2B Cesar Hernandez S 1 3B Manny Machado R
2 CF Odubel Herrera L 2 LF Travis Snyder S
3 3B Maikel Franco R 3 DH Jimmy Paredes R
4 DH Ryan Howard    L 4 1B Chris Davis L
5 1B Chase Utley L 5 RF Chris Parmelee L
6 RF Domonic Brown L 6 SS J.J. Hardy R
7 LF Cody Asche L 7 2B Ryan Flaherty L
8 C Carlos Ruiz R 8 C Caleb Joseph R
9 SS Freddy Galvis S 9 CF David Lough L


 Game Notes:

  • All-time at Camden Yards, the Phillies have an even 14-14 record. They have won just once in their past seven overall meetings against the Orioles, which dates back to June 19, 2009 at Citizens Bank Park.

  • Over his past ten games, second baseman Chase Utley is batting .071/.206/.071 with two hits, one run-batted-in, five walks and three strikeouts over 34 plate appearances. His season batting average is now down to .187, which is the third-worst for qualifying batters behind Houston's Luis Valbuena (.181) and New York (AL)'s Stephen Drew (.175).
  • Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy is a career .368/.429/.579 hitter against Jerome Williams with seven hits, a double, a home run, two walks and three runs-batted-in over 19 at-bats.

Broadcast Information:

  • First-pitch: 7:05 pm EST
  • TV: CSN
  • Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)

What's Next:

  • Wednesday, June 17, 2015: vs. Baltimore Orioles, 7:05 pm
  • Thursday, June 18, 2015: vs. Baltimore Orioles, 1:05 pm
    • RHP Bud Norris (2-4, 8.29 ERA) vs. RHP Sean O'Sullivan (1-5, 5.08 ERA)
    • TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)

Matt Rappa (@mattrappa) is managing editor of Philliedelphia.com.