Nola looks to stay hot as Phillies open series with Machado, Padres

Nationally, Monday’s Philadelphia Phillies-San Diego Padres game will be of interest because it will be the first time Bryce Harper and Manny Machado meet since signing historic contracts this past offseason. Locally, though, the focus will be on the Phillies attempt to rebound after being swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers this past weekend.

Luckily for Gabe Kapler’s squad, their stopper, Aaron Nola, will get the ball tonight at Petco Park. Nola, after a rather alarming start to the 2019 season, posted a 2.73 ERA in six starts in May, lowering his ERA by a run and a half.

Andy Green and the Padres, who enter this series one game above .500, will give the ball to lefty Eric Lauer, who is celebrating his 24th birthday Monday. This will be the third straight day that the Phillies square off with a left-handed starter.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of this evening’s Phillies-Padres game.

Phillies Lineup 

1. Andrew McCutchen, center field
2. Jean Segura, shortstop
3. Bryce Harper, right field
4. Rhys Hoskins, first base
5. J.T. Realmuto, catcher
6. Scott Kingery, third base
7. Cesar Hernandez, second base
8. Sean Rodriguez, left field
9. Aaron Nola, pitcher

Padres Lineup

1. Greg Garcia, third base
2. Franmil Reyes, right field
3. Manny Machado, shortstop
4. Eric Hosmer, first base
5. Hunter Renfroe, left field
6. Wil Myers, center field
7. Ian Kinsler, second base
8. Austin Hedges, catcher
9. Eric Lauer, pitcher

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Matchup

• Aaron Nola (6-0, 4.18 ERA and 4.31 FIP) vs. Eric Lauer (4-4, 4.45 ERA and 4.07 FIP)
• After posting a 6.66 ERA in five starts in April, Nola went 4-0 with a 2.73 ERA in six starts in May.
• Lauer hasn’t surrendered a walk in his last three starts.

Pregame Phillies Nuggets

1. In his first season with the Padres, Manny Machado is hitting just .227 with a .657 OPS at Petco Park. On the road, Machado is hitting .277 with an .853 OPS.
2. In 54 career plate appearances at Petco Park, Bryce Harper has a .341 batting average with 10 walks, four home runs and 11 RBIs.
3. While Ian Kinsler is still a good fielder, he’s hitting just .190 in 158 at-bats in 2019.
4. Rhys Hoskins hit the first three home runs of his career at Petco Park, but he’s batting just .174 in 23 career at-bats in San Diego.
5. Following a disappointing first season in San Diego, Hosmer is hitting .291 with nine home runs and 34 RBIs in 2019.

Programming Information

• Petco Park
• 10:10 p.m. ET
• NBC Sports Philadelphia
• SportsRadio 94 WIP

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