Phillies at Padres
After winning five of six contests, the Philadelphia Phillies have hit the skids and are in danger of falling out of first place in the National League East. Philadelphia looks to halt its five-game losing streak when it visits the San Diego Padres on Tuesday for the middle contest of their three-game series.
The Phillies, who are just one-half game ahead of Atlanta in the NL East, fell to 0-4 on their six-game California trek with Monday's 8-2 defeat in which J.T. Realmuto homered and drove in two runs. Philadelphia lost more than a game, however, as Andrew McCutchen exited in the first inning with a knee injury he suffered while trying to avoid a tag during a rundown. San Diego bounced back from a pair of 9-3 losses to Miami over the weekend, breaking open a tie game with a seven-run sixth inning that featured a grand slam by Manny Machado. Pinch-hitter Josh Naylor delivered a two-run single in the big inning while Machado ended his four-game RBI drought by belting his first homer since May 14, halting a 17-game dry spell.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, FS San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Jerad Eickhoff (2-3, 4.10 ERA) vs. Padres RH Chris Paddack (4-3, 2.40)
Eickhoff fell to 0-2 with an 8.35 ERA over his last four starts after surrendering four runs and eight hits - three homers - over 6 1/3 innings in a loss to St. Louis on Thursday. The 28-year-old native of Indiana has served up 10 home runs over 18 1/3 frames during his rough stretch after keeping the ball in the park in each of his first five appearances (four starts) this season. Eickhoff has been superb against San Diego in his career, going 3-0 with a 1.96 ERA in four starts.
Paddack is coming off his second loss in three starts, a road setback against the New York Yankees on Wednesday in which he yielded four runs and six hits - three homers - over five innings. The 23-year-old rookie from Texas served up only four home runs over 51 1/3 frames in his first nine turns and has issued more than one walk just once. Paddack, who will be facing Philadelphia for the first time, is 3-1 with a 1.42 ERA in five starts at home.
WALK-OFFS
1. Padres OF Franmil Reyes belted his 17th homer of the season on Monday, eclipsing his total from last year's rookie season.
2. Philadelphia 1B Rhys Hoskins has hit safely in six of his last seven contests, recording three two-hit performances in that span.
3. San Diego sent SS Fernando Tatis Jr. (hamstring) to Double-A Amarillo for a rehab assignment.