Phillies Welcome Defending World Champion Royals To CBP

by Matt Leon

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- After a hard-fought 5-4 road trip, the Phillies will be back home tonight to open a weekend series with the defending World Series Champs, the Kansas City Royals.

The Phillies started that trip by losing two out of three in Minnesota and San Francisco, but they wrapped it up in fine style by sweeping the Diamondbacks in Arizona.

Jeremy Hellickson gets the start for the Phillies tonight in the series opener. The veteran right-hander is 5-6 with a 4.23 ERA in 16 starts. He beat the Giants in his last start with six strong innings of work on Saturday. Hellickson has made seven career appearances against the Royals (six starts) compiling a 1-2 record and a 5.45 ERA.

Kansas City will counter with right-hander Ian Kennedy. He is 6-6 with a 3.96 ERA. In eight career starts against the Phillies, Kennedy is 3-3 with a 3.25 ERA.

Here is the Phillies line-up tonight against Kennedy:

1. Odubel Herrera CF
2. Peter Bourjos RF
3. Cody Asche LF
4. Maikel Franco 3B
5. Ryan Howard 1B
6. Cameron Rupp C
7. Freddy Galvis SS
8. Cesar Hernandez 2B
9. Jeremy Hellickson P

KYW's Matt Leon spoke with Bill Pollock of Missourinet Sports to get a scout of the 2016 Royals.

You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattleonkyw.