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Series Preview: Phillies vs. Yankees

On Monday the Phillies will open up a home-and-home four-game series against the Yankees, with the first pair taking place in Philadelphia and the last pair happening in New York City.

After dropping two of three in their season opening series against the Marlins, the Phils look to bounce back and get on the winning track.  

New Phillies skipper Joe Girardi managed the Yankees for a decade, winning a World Series title against the Phils in 2009. 

Two days shy of the 10-year anniversary of the day the Phillies traded him to Houston in the Roy Oswalt deal, J.A. Happ will start the series opener against veteran Jake Arrieta. 

Read ahead for breakdowns of the pitching match ups and other key stats from this series.

Monday 7/27, 7:05PM.  LHP J.A. Happ (12-8, 4.91 ERA in 2019) vs. RHP Jake Arrieta (8-8, 4.64 ERA in 2019).  In 30 career appearances at Citizens Bank Park, the 37-year-old Happ sports a 3.87 ERA.  In his career against Happ, Andrew McCutchen is 12-for-28 (.429 avg) with four home runs.  Happ was the Phils' 3rd round draft choice in 2004.  In 11 home starts last year, Arrieta posted a 5-3 record with a 4.36 ERA.  In nine career appearances against the Yankees, Arrieta has notched a 3-2 record with a 3.98 ERA.  Giancarlo Stanton is 3-for-14 (.214 avg) with a homer in his career against Arrieta. 

Tuesday 7/28, 6:05PM.  RHP Gerrit Cole (1-0, 1.80 ERA this season) vs. RHP Zach Eflin (10-13, 4.13 ERA in 2019).  In seven starts facing the Phillies, Cole's got a 4-3 record, a 3.38 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP.  Cole has a 5.40 ERA in three career starts at Citizens Bank Park.  J.T. Realmuto is 10-for-14 (.714 avg) with a home run in his career against Cole.  Eflin went 6-5 with a 4.00 ERA in 15 home appearances last year.  In his lone career start against the Yankees, Eflin tossed seven scoreless frames. 

Wednesday 7/29, 7:05PM.  RHP Aaron Nola (0-1, 6.75 ERA this season) vs. LHP Jordan Montgomery (0-0, 6.75 ERA in two MLB appearances last year).  Montgomery was the Yankees' 4th round draft selection in 2014.  In 19 career appearances at Yankee Stadium, Montgomery sports a 7-3 record with a 3.45 ERA.  Nola has not faced the Yankees to date in his career.  In 15 road appearances last season, Nola posted a 6-5 record with a 5.19 ERA. Giancarlo Stanton is 4-for-11 with a double and two home runs in his career against Nola. 

Thursday 7/30, 7:05PM.  RHP Zack Wheeler (1-0, 1.29 ERA this year) vs. LHP James Paxton (0-1, 27.00 ERA this year).  In a pair of starts against the Yankees last season, Wheeler was 0-1 with a 5.73 ERA.  Wheeler has allowed 10 earned runs in nine innings pitched at Yankee Stadium.  Paxton is 0-2 with a 3.27 ERA in a pair of starts against the Phils.  In 15 starts at Yankee Stadium last season, Paxton notched a 7-3 record with a 3.35 ERA and an 11.2 K/9 mark. 

In 37 games at Yankee Stadium last season, Didi Gregorius posted a .196 batting average.  Gregorius is 2-for-20 (.100 avg) in his career against Happ.

First baseman Rhys Hoskins batted .208 in 80 road games last season.  Hoskins is 2-for-12 with a homer in three career games against the Yankees.

In 24 career games against the Yankees OF Jay Bruce has a .103 batting average with a home run.  Bruce has a .098 average in 14 games at Yankee Stadium.  

In 201 career games at Yankee Stadium, slugger Aaron Judge has a .315/.433/.647 slash line.  

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