Phillies Open Series With Blue Jays Tonight Behind Nola

By Matt Leon

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The struggling Phillies open a brief two-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays tonight at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies have dropped five of their last six games. They were swept over the weekend in Milwaukee, scoring just four runs (total) in three losses.

Aaron Nola will get the start on the mound tonight for the Phillies. The rookie right-hander is 3-1 in five starts since getting called up to the big leagues with a 4.25 ERA. He beat Arizona in his last start, allowing 4 runs on 9 hits in 5 innings of work.

The Blue Jays give the ball to knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. He is 7-10 this season with a 3.96 ERA. In 11 career starts against the Phillies, Dickey is 5-4 with a 2.58 ERA. One of those starts came last month, Dickey pitching eight strong innings on July 29th in Toronto, earning an 8-2 victory.

Dickey is 4-0 in his last 5 starts with a 1.49 ERA during that stretch.

Here is the lineup for the Phillies against R.A. Dickey. Third baseman Maikel Franco remains out with that wrist injury and in fact this afternoon he was placed on the 15-day disabled list. Outfielder Aaron Altherr has been called up to take his place on the roster.

1. 2B Chase Utley
2. 3B Cesar Hernandez
3. CF Odubel Herrera
4. RF Jeff Francoeur
5. 1B Darin Ruf
6. LF Cody Asche
7. SS Freddy Galvis
8. C Cameron Rupp
9. P Aaron Nola

KYW's Matt Leon spoke with CSNPhilly.com's Corey Seidman about a few different topics including tonight's match-up with the Blue Jays.

You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattleonkyw.