Phillies (22-39) at Pirates (32-27)
7 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet
The Phillies will turn to veteran journeyman Kevin Correia Friday night to end their seven-game road losing skid.
The Phils, losers of 13 of their last 16 games, will hope to remedy their road woes in a three-game set against the Pirates.
Here are five things you need to know:
1. From the couch to mound
Here's a note from Phillies Insider Jim Salisbury on the team's newest starter:
Correia, 34, has pitched in the majors with the Giants, Twins, Pirates, Padres and Dodgers. He was most recently with the Giants’ Triple A Sacramento club. He was 0-1 with a 3.58 ERA for that team before opting out of his contract on May 29.
“I was at the point where I felt I’d done all I could do there,” he said. “I was throwing well. I was willing to take the risk that I was ready to pitch in the major leagues and hopefully there would be a team that needed me.”
MLB
The Phillies had a need in the starting rotation and could continue to have a need if Cole Hamels or Aaron Harang are traded.
After taking his release with the Giants, Correia continued to throw at home in San Diego. He threw a bullpen session with the Phillies in Cincinnati on Tuesday.
“I should be good to go Friday,” he said.
2. Locke and key
Pirates lefty Jeff Locke (3-3, 5.37 ERA) hasn't enjoyed a ton of success this season. Locke has one win in his last nine outings, posting a 6.38 ERA during that span.
Locke has had success against the Phillies in his career.
In four previous starts against the Phils, Locke is 4-0 with a 1.35 ERA while holding the Phillies' hitters to a .163 average. Current Phillies who have faced Locke have just six hits in 46 at-bats against him.
3. Franco cleaning up
In what can kindly be called a tough season, the emergence of 22-year-old third baseman Maikel Franco has been a bright spot (see story).
In the series finale against the Reds, Franco hit cleanup for the second time in his career, separating lefties Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. With Utley and Howard sitting out against Locke, Franco will bat third for the second time.
And the kid has earned it. In June, Franco has hit .444 with four homers and eight RBIs in nine games. He's also added five doubles for a .917 slugging percentage.
4. Utley gets night off
In the midst of his second 0 for 21 slump of the season Utley will get the night off. Andres Blanco will play second and bat second.
Utley appeared to figure things out during a 16-game stretch from May 15 to June 2 — hitting .389. However, since a three-hit game against the Reds on June 2, he has just one hit in his last 25 at-bats.
For the season, Utley is hitting .185. For his career, Utley has always held his own against lefties (.262). This season, though, he's hitting .151 against southpaws. Utley is 1 for 6 off Locke in his career.
It makes sense for Sandberg to give Utley the night off. Although Utley hasn't fared much better against tomorrow night's starter, Gerrit Cole (1 for 7).
5. This and that
• Franco is tied for third in the league in hitting (.444) and tied for second in home runs (4) in the month of June (minimum 20 at-bats).
• Pirates infielder Pedro Alvarez is 3 for 5 off Correia in his career.
• Correia's last start came on August 24 of last season with the Dodgers, a loss against the Mets. He was touched up for seven runs — five earned — in three innings.
• After a slow start, 2013 MVP Andrew McCutchen has returned to form, hitting .381 in his last 31 games.
• At 22-39, the Phillies currently have the worst record in baseball.