Phillies (33-62) vs. Rays (47-48)
7:05 p.m. on CSN
The farm’s golden arm has arrived (see story).
Aaron Nola, the Phillies’ No. 1 pitching prospect, has ridden the fast track to Citizens Bank Park and will make his highly touted big-league debut tonight against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Phillies drafted Nola No. 7 overall in June of 2014 out of LSU.
Now, just over 13 months later, he’s here, becoming the first Phillie to make his major-league debut the year after he was drafted since Pat Combs in 1989.
And good timing, too, as Nola will look to lead the Phillies to a fifth straight win out of the All-Star break.
Here are five things you need to know for the game:
MLB
1. Ready to Nola
Nola quickly ascended to the big leagues as a savvy, well-groomed right-hander mature well beyond his age of 22 years old.
Prior to his call-up, Nola teased the opposition at Double A, where he went 7-3 with a 1.88 ERA, 59 strikeouts and nine walks. He then tackled Triple A in six starts, going 3-1 with a 3.58 ERA, 33 strikeouts and nine walks, showing enough to convince Phillies officials he was ready to test major-league waters.
So, what should you expect?
Nola possesses a three-pitch repertoire consisting of a low-90s fastball that can touch 92-93 mph, which sets up his changeup and breaking ball.
But Nola’s command and pitching IQ are what set him apart. The three-quarter-arm-slot hurler understands sequences and thrives on changing speeds. He’ll add and subtract in all counts, while all three of his pitches can dip and dive.
He won’t blow you away, but his smarts should be fun to watch.
2. Rays of hope?
Despite facing an American League opponent in his first MLB start, Nola gets a favorable matchup against the Rays.
Among AL teams, Tampa Bay scores the third-fewest runs per game (3.6), while sporting the second-to-worst batting average (.238) and second-most strikeouts (772).
In fact, the Rays entered Monday’s game with 337 runs, making them the first AL team at .500 or better 94 games in with that few of runs since the 1978 A’s.
3. Scouting Karns
The Phillies face Rays right-hander Nathan Karns (4-5, 3.63 ERA).
Karns is coming off one of his worst outings of the season in which he allowed a season-high seven runs in six innings of a loss to the Royals. But prior, the 27-year-old was on a roll in posting a 1.78 ERA over his previous five starts, including a 10-strikeout game on July 4 against the Yankees.
Karns primarily throws a 93-mph four-seam fastball, 82-mph curveball and 93-mph sinker, while mixing in a changeup. His curveball isn’t devastating, but the drop in velocity makes it his best pitch that has punctuated 43 of his 99 punchouts.
Striking early may be the Phillies’ best bet at solving Karns, a groove pitcher that gains steam as he eats innings. The righty owns a 7.50 ERA and .325 opponents’ batting average in the first inning this season, both his worst marks among all frames.
4. No Franco?
As Nola makes first start, Maikel Franco may get his first day off since his promotion. (UPDATE, 2:43 p.m. - Franco is not in Tuesday night's starting lineup)
The Phillies’ third baseman left Monday night’s win after the eighth inning with right elbow soreness.
“I’m not that concerned,” Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said after the win. “But it wasn’t good news to hear. We’ll wait to hear what the trainer says.”
Serious or not, it would be hard to believe Franco doesn’t get a day purely for cautionary reasons. He’s started 59 straight games since being called up and the Phillies won’t risk anything with a cornerstone of their rebuild.
It should be interesting to see how Mackanin constructs his lineup without Franco, who has become a fixture in the No. 3 spot of the order.
5. This and that
• A win tonight would give the Phillies their first consecutive series victories of the season.
• The Phillies have not started the second half 5-0 since 2009.
• Rays third baseman Evan Longoria is 2 for his last 24 (.083).
• Since June 20, Tampa Bay is 7-18.