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The Philadelphia Phillies will finally begin their second series of the 2020 Major League Baseball season on Monday night, squaring off against the New York Yankees, one week later than […]
The Philadelphia Phillies will finally begin their second series of the 2020 Major League Baseball season on Monday night, squaring off against the New York Yankees, one week later than expected.
The Phillies-Yankees series was originally postponed due to the Miami Marlins COVID-19 outbreak, occurring the same weekend they played against the Phillies in Philadelphia. The Phillies schedule was further complicated after three staff members tested positive for the coronavirus mid-week, delaying their weekend series against the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Phillies and Yankees will meet for a four-game series as originally intended, playing in New York on Monday and Tuesday before the series shifts to Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia with games on Wednesday and Thursday.
On Monday night, the Yankees prize of the offseason, ace pitcher Gerrit Cole, will take the mound in Yankee Stadium. The Phillies will start Jake Arrieta in his season debut. Philadelphia manager Joe Giradi technically could have went with Aaron Nola, or any pitcher on the roster, following the Phillies week-long break. But Giradi keeps the Phillies rotation moving forward with Arrieta starting Philadelphia’s fourth game of the season.
Girardi will, however, skip over a fifth starter to put Nola on the mound Tuesday night in New York. This will be Girardi’s first game coaching against the Yankees following his ten-year tenure that netted the franchise a World Series victory over the Phillies in 2009.
The Yankees come in to the matchup on the heels of a red-hot 7-1 start to their season. New York will be playing its eighth game, while the Phillies will be playing just their fourth, a week removed from live baseball action. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Philadelphia’s offense (which heated up for a slew of homeruns against the Marlins,) struggle in their initial return to play.
Philadelphia’s lineup for Monday night’s game features eight of the nine hitters that started on Opening Day. The only change in personnel is the addition of Adam Haseley, who went 4-for-6 in a start last Sunday, and the subtraction of Roman Quinn. Haseley will start his second straight game in center field.
The Phillies (1-2, .333 winning percentage) aren’t in last place in the NL East, as the New York Mets (3-7, .300 winning percentage) have struggled through their first ten games.
For a look back at the Phillies first three games against the Marlins, which featured some unlikely standout players, check out my first-ever Phillies series recap.
This article is part of a series on the 2020 Philadelphia Phillies.
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