Phightin' Phils Phorum

Preseries Quick Hits: Phillies vs. Yankees World Series Game 1, 2 10/28, 10/29/09

The Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees will meet for the second time in World Series history. The Yankees had the upper in hand in 1950 beating the Whiz Kids 4 games to none but Charlie's Wall Bangers are a modern day murder's row and team leader Jimmy Rollins has declared that the Phillies will take this series in 5 games. Rollins has been right on all of his predictions in the past. Has he been lucky or is he really a baseball prophet? This series will answer that question.

The Yankees have a slight edge in the series. In addition to home field advantage, they had the best record in baseball against left handed pitchers making the job even harder for Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels. Meanwhile they will throw two lefty's at the Phillies making it harder on some of their biggest stars. 

Still the defending World Champions are confident along with their fans that the 21st century of baseball belongs to Philadelphia, not New York!

Pitching Match Ups:

10/28 at NYY Cliff Lee, LHP (0-0, -.--) vs.CC Sabathia, LHP (0-0, -.--) 7:57pm

10/29 at NYY Pedro Martinez, RHP (0-0, -.--) vs. TBA 7:57pm

Other Quick Hits:

• The Phillies are 0-4 against the Yankees in World Series history.
• The Phillies are 10-11 against the Yankees in interleague play.
• The Phillies were 2-1 against the Yankees in 2009.
• Tonight's game will be the first World Series game ever played at New Yankees Stadium.

Pitchers Scouting Report:

10/28:

Phillies: 2008 AL Cy Young winner Cliff Lee will face off against former teammate and 2007 AL Cy Young Award winner CC Sabathia in Game 1 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium. Lee is 4-4 with a 5.02 ERA in nine career starts against the Yankees, but is 2-1 with a 1.89 ERA in his last three against them. That included a 10-2 victory over the Yankees in the opening of new Yankee Stadium on April 16, when Lee still pitched for the Cleveland Indians.

The 30-year-old lefty, who had no prior playoff experience, has done nothing but dominate in October. He allowed three hits over eight shutout innings in the Phillies' 11-0 Game 3 victory over the Dodgers in the NLCS, lowering his 2009 postseason ERA to 0.74. Lee allowed one run during a complete-game victory in Game 1 of the Division Series against Colorado. In Game 4 of that series, he allowed three runs (one earned) in 7 1/3 innings. All told, that's two earned runs in 24 1/3 innings.

In his NLCS start, he almost got a chance to put up another zero and to become the third pitcher in the Wild Card era to toss two complete games in a single postseason. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel let Lee hit in the bottom of the eighth -- he singled -- and was going to send him out for the ninth. But once Shane Victorino hit a three-run home run, Manuel decided to entrust an 11-run lead to the bullpen. Lee had already thrown 114 pitches, but didn't appear to be tiring: He struck out two in a 10-pitch eighth inning.

"I don't think I ever doubted myself," said Lee, who had been demoted to Triple-A during the 2007 season before his breakout 2008 campaign. "I always had confidence in myself and felt like I could pitch in a big game. But you never know until you get the opportunity. It's a challenge."

Yankees: Sabathia has been a rock for the Yankees all season and certainly a nice return on a heavy financial investment (seven years, $161 million). This is what they're paying him for, the kind of starts he's had in the postseason.

The big left-hander earned ALCS MVP honors for winning his two starts against the Angels, Games 1 and 4, after allowing just two runs in 16 innings (1.13 ERA), along with nine hits, three walks and 12 strikeouts. Overall in this postseason, Sabathia is 3-0 with a 1.19 ERA (three earned runs in 22 2/3 innings), 20 strikeouts and three walks.

In Game 1 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium, Sabathia (the 2007 AL Cy Young Award winner) faces former Indians teammate -- and 2008 AL Cy Young Award honoree -- Cliff Lee in a matchup of ace southpaws. In a start at the Stadium against the Phillies on May 24, Sabathia allowed three runs in eight innings on nine hits, with no walks and four strikeouts, in a no-decision. The Yankees lost that game, 4-3, in 11 innings. 

10/29:

Phillies:It makes a great story to have Martinez pitch Game 2 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium, but does it make the most sense? Martinez is 11-11 with a 3.20 ERA in 32 career starts against the Yankees, and is 1-2 with a 4.71 ERA in six postseason appearances against them.

"I think he's still got quite a bit left," Manuel said. "I was watching those playoff games that he pitched in. His velocity was sitting 87 to 91 mph, and he was even better than that at Dodger Stadium. That was a couple years ago when he pitched those games against the Yankees. He knows how to pitch. His command is good. He uses all of his pitches. His command is absolutely outstanding. He doesn't rely on throwing the ball by people anymore, but he's a pitcher."

Yankees:

A.J. Burnett or Andy Pettitte will probably pitch for the Bronx Bombers. Manager Joe Girardi will probably see how the Phillies fair against left hander C.C. Sabathia in game one and make his decision based on the match ups. For my money, Burnett gets the nod.

Coming Up:

The World Series shifts the Citizens Bank Park for games 3, 4, and 5.

Preseries Quick Hits: Phillies vs. Dodgers Game 3, 4, & 5 10/18, 10/19, 10/21/2009

The NLCS moves to Citizens Bank Park where the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers battle for a trip to the World Series. The Phillies won game 1 but the bullpen imploded in game 2 evening up the series. Game 3 is pivotal for both teams but more so for the Phillies as they need to win 2 out of 3 at home.

Pitching Matchups:

10/18 vs. LAD Hiroki Kuroda, RHP (0-0, -.--) vs. Cliff Lee, LHP (0-0, -.--) 8:07pm

10/19 vs. LAD Randy Wolf, LHP (0-0, -.--) vs. Joe Blanton, RHP (0-0, -.--) 8:07pm

10/21 vs. LAD TBA vs. TBA 8:07pm

Quick Hits:

• Joe Blanton was named the game 4 starter by manager Charlie Manuel.

• The Phillies and Dodgers 5 meetings in an LCS are tied for the most in history with the Pirates and Reds.
• The Phillies are in the 8th NLCS in franchise history. They have won 5 of their last 9 and have an all time record in the NLCS of 17-16.
• The Phillies are 15-8 in the postseason with Charlie Manuel as their manager.
• The Phillies are 10-9 all time in the NLCS against the Dodgers.
• The Phillies have won 8 of their last 13 games against the Dodgers in the regular season.

Pitcher's Scouting Report:

10/18:

Dodgers: Hiroki Kuroda passed a final exam Tuesday, proving to Joe Torre and Rick Honeycutt that the herniated disk in his neck was healed enough to take the ball after being left off the roster for the first round against the Cardinals. While it will be almost three weeks since Kuroda pitched in a Major League game, management believes he's enough of a gamer to give him the first start in a hostile Citizens Bank Park. That conclusion was reached based in large part on how clutch Kuroda was in last year's playoffs, having been the only Dodgers starter to beat the Phillies. In his only start against them this year, he threw six scoreless innings in a no-decision. In three regular-season starts against them he's allowed only two earned runs in 19 innings. It's been a nightmarish season for the Opening Day starter, from a strained oblique muscle to the line drive he took off his head to the herniated disk, but all will be forgotten if he can duplicate last October's success.

Phillies: Lee has shown he is more than ready to pitch in the postseason. He looked dominant in Games 1 and 4 of the National League Division Series against the Colorado Rockies. He allowed one run and six hits in a complete-game 5-1 victory over the Rockies in Game 1 at Citizens Bank Park. He allowed just one earned run in 7 1/3 innings in a dramatic 5-4 comeback victory in Game 4 at Coors Field. Lee scuffled a bit late in the regular season, but it appears the postseason has energized him. He seems to want to make the most of the moment. The Cleveland Indians left him off their 2007 postseason roster, which is something he hasn't forgotten. He won the American League Cy Young last season before the Indians traded him and outfielder Ben Francisco to the Phillies on July 29 for prospects Jason Knapp, Carlos Carrasco, Lou Marson and Jason Donald.

10/19:

Dodgers: Randy Wolf, another former Phillie, took a demotion to make this start after getting the Game 1 nod in the first round against the Cardinals. On a generally short leash during the regular season, even though he led the club in innings pitched, Wolf got yanked from his first career postseason appearance after allowing only two runs in a shaky 3 2/3 innings. That said, he went 6-1 down the stretch and held opposing left-handed hitters to an average of .159, which should serve him well against a Phillies lineup loaded with lefties. On the other hand, Wolf was 1-1 with a 5.11 ERA against Philadelphia this year and is 9-7 with a 4.30 ERA at Citizens Bank Park, although most of those starts had the Phillies lineup supporting him, not facing him. His 2.78 road ERA was fifth in the league.

Phillies: Phillies manager Charlie Manuel picked right-hander Joe Blanton over left-hander J.A. Happ for this start. Pitching out of the bullpen, Blanton made two appearances in the NL Division Series against the Rockies, allowing two earned run in 4 2/3 innings. Blanton was 12-8 with a 4.05 ERA in 31 starts during the regular season.

10/21:

Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw is the favorite to pitch for the Dodgers in game 5. He had a rough outing in game 1 and has struggled in his career against the Phillies. Joe Torre could decide to move Vincente Padilla up a day to pitch game 5 depending on where the series is.

Phillies: Cole Hamels is the front runner to be the game 5 starter for Philadelphia. Hamels struggled in game 1 but did enough to get the win.

Coming Up:

The series returns to Dodgers Stadium for game 6 and 7 if necessary.

Preseries Quick Hits: Phillies vs. Dodgers Game 1 & 2 10/15, 10/16/2009

The Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers face off for the fifth time in NLCS history. The series is split but 2009 is an unwritten story. Many of the same names from 2008 are in the forefront, but some new names emerge from both dugouts. Expect an exciting best of seven series and the first two games to be electric at Dodgers Stadium.

Pitching Match Ups:

10/15 at LAD Cole Hamels, LHP (0-0, -.--) vs. Clayton Kershaw, LHP (0-0, -.--) 8:07pm

10/16 at LAD Pedro Martinez, RHP (0-0, -.--) vs. Vicente Padilla, RHP (0-0, -.--) 4:07pm

Quick Hits:

• The Phillies and Dodgers 5 meetings in an LCS are tied for the most in history with the Pirates and Reds.
• The Phillies .296 batting average in the 2009 NLDS is the highest in a postseason in franchise history.
• The Phillies are in the 8th NLCS in franchise history. They have won 4 of their last 7 and have an all time record in the NLCS of 16-15.
• The Phillies are 14-7 in the postseason with Charlie Manuel as their manager.
• The Phillies are 9-8 all time in the NLCS against the Dodgers.
• The Phillies have won 7 of their last 11 games against the Dodgers in the regular season.
• The Phillies are 125-156 all time at Dodgers Stadium.

Pitcher's Scouting Report:

10/15:

Phillies: With an impressive resume against the Dodgers and the benefit of six days' rest, Hamels is set up well to open the National League Championship Series against the Dodgers. During a 2009 regular season that was at times a rough followup to his 2008 heroics, Hamels pitched a shutout at Dodger Stadium on June 4, one of his two on the season. That was after going 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in two starts against them in last year's NLCS to earn series Most Valuable Player honors, and he is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in four career regular-season starts against them. However, Hamels finished the 2009 season 10-11 with a 4.32 ERA, and was 0-2 with a 7.02 ERA in his last three regular-season starts. His NL Division Series Game 2 start against the Rockies didn't alter that trend much, as he allowed four earned runs in five innings of work in a 5-4 loss. He left that game following his exit from the mound to attend the birth of his first child, and remained in Philadelphia to work out as the Phillies clinched their second consecutive NLCS berth in Denver.

Dodgers: In Game 1 of the NLCS against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Dodgers will hand the ball to the 21-year-old lefty Kershaw. The decision comes after Kershaw threw 6 2/3 innings of two-run ball against the Cardinals in the NLDS in the Dodgers' comeback win. Kershaw didn't show any nerves in his first-career postseason start as he was able to get out of jams and keep the Cardinals from capitalizing on run-scoring opportunities. Kershaw was the Dodgers' most electrifying pitcher this season, using his four-seam fastball and his curveball to pile up strikeouts and limit hitters to a .200 average. He went 8-8 with a 2.79 ERA in 2009 but was 0-2 with a 5.23 ERA in two starts against the Phillies this year.

10/16:

Phillies: Martinez will be making his first postseason appearance since beating the Cardinals in Game 3 of the 2004 World Series. The 37-year-old right-hander, who joined the Phillies in August, has pitched just seven innings since Sept. 13. But after watching the veteran hurler complete a simulated game on Tuesday, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel once again reiterated that he's comfortable putting him out there as a starter. Martinez has gone 3-5 with a 4.02 ERA in nine career starts against the Dodgers. This is his first appearance against them since 2006. In 13 career playoff appearances, the three-time Cy Young Award winner has gone 6-2 with a 3.40 ERA.

Dodgers: Vicente Padilla, a former Phillie, has resurrected his career in a big way after being released by the Rangers. He's unbeaten as a Dodger with four regular-season wins and the first-round clincher in St. Louis, when he threw seven scoreless innings and looked perfectly capable of finishing it up. Padilla had a dicey reputation with the Rangers as headhunter, but has been a model citizen with the Dodgers, impressive enough against the Cardinals to get moved up in the rotation. His teammates watch a sinking fastball that stays around 94 mph and can't believe he was released. He's faced the Phillies only once, allowing seven runs in a six-inning start in 2008. He's had plenty of experience at Citizens Bank Park, going 10-11 with a 4.98 ERA in his last two years with the Phillies after going 15-15 with a 2.97 ERA at Veterans Stadium.

Coming Up:

The series shifts to Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia for game 3, 4, and 5 if necessary.

Preseries Quick Hits: Phillies vs. Rockies Game 1 &2 10/6, 10/7/2009

In a match up of the last two National League Pennant winners, the defending World Champion Philadelphia Phillies look to keep their crown and pay a little retribution to the Colorado Rockies. The Rockies won the pennant in 2007 and in the process swept the Phillies in a best of five NLDS series.

Expect potent offense from both sides and perhaps the budding of a new rivalry. This series could go all five games so get on your Phillies gear as we hunt for another Red October! The television broadcasts for these games will be on TBS. If you want to hear the Phillies announcers listen to XM Radio or 1210 the Big Talker.

Pitching Match ups:

Game 1:

10/6/09 vs. Col Ubaldo Jimenez, RHP (0-0, -.--) vs. Cole Hamels, LHP (0-0, -.--) 2:37pm TBS

Game 2:

10/7/09 vs. Col  TBA vs. Cliff Lee, LHP (0-0, -.--) 2:37pm TBS

Quick Hits:

• The Phillies are 0-3 against the Rockies in the playoffs.
• The Phillies had a 4-2 record in 2009 against the Rockies.
• The Phillies are 11-9 all time at Citizens Bank Park against the Rockies.
• They are 0-2 in the playoffs against Colorado at Citizens Bank Park.
• The Phillies all time record against the Rockies is 73-58.

Pitchers Scouting Report:

10/6:

Rockies: On Friday night, with the Rockies still in position to win the National League West, Jimenez turned in a gem, holding the Dodgers to one run and two hits in six innings of a 4-3 victory. After the All-Star break this season, Jimenez went 9-3 with a 3.08 ERA. He's capable of going into the 120-pitch range and still being effective. In two career regular-season starts, Jimenez is 0-1 with an 8.10 ERA. But in Game 2 of the 2007 NLDS at Citizen Bank Park, Jimenez shut the Phils down -- 6 1/3 innings, one run, three hits. Although he didn't figure in the decision, the Rockies won.

Phillies: Hamels allowed three hits, three runs and two walks in three innings Saturday against the Rockies. The Phillies pulled him after he threw just 47 pitches to get him in line for a potential Game 1 start, although the Phillies have not made anything official. Hamels finished the season 10-11 with a 4.32 ERA, and is 0-2 with a 7.02 ERA in his last three starts. But Hamels proved himself to be a big-game pitcher last postseason, when he went 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA in five starts to earn World Series and NL Championship Series MVP honors. "Now I have to put it together, but this is the time where everything really matters and really counts," Hamels said.

10/7:

Rockies: Aaron Cook is the favorite to start this game. Cook has held opponents to one run in 13 innings in two starts after missing five weeks with a sore shoulder. Both of those games were at Coors Field, where an effective sinker is a great weapon. That's perfect preparation for Citizens Bank Park and its bandbox-tight dimensions. Last time Cook pitched at Citizens Bank Park, he gave up three runs on seven hits in five innings and had to leave because he aggravated a turf-toe problem. He is 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA in two starts at CBP.

Phillies: Lee is looking forward to the first postseason start of his career. The Cleveland Indians reached the American League Championship Series in 2007, but Lee wasn't on the postseason roster after spending some of the season in the Minor Leagues. He is 7-4 with a 3.39 ERA in 12 starts with the Phillies, but is 2-4 with a 6.13 ERA in his last seven. He went 5-0 with a 0.68 ERA in his first five starts. The Phillies are hoping to get the Lee who dominated in his first five starts.

Coming Up:

The Phillies and Rockies head to Colorado where the last time the Phillies played there Matt Stairs hit a game winning homerun. The last homerun call made by legendary broadcaster Harry Kalas.

Preseries Quick Hits: Phillies vs. Brewers 9/24, 9/25, 9/26, 9/27/2009

The Philadelphia Phillies (88-63) look to rebound after a disastrous loss last night to the Florida Marlins. Brad Lidge, who could not save an elephant from drowning in a puddle, remains the teams closer despite having the worst season I can remember a Phillies closer having. In my post "Lidge Teetering On The Ledge" written in May, I did not know how prophetic I was being.

Charlie Manuel was quoted on the subject saying, "Him (Lidge) and Madson that's what we've got at the back of our bullpen. He was our closer last year and he'll be our closer now. Those are our guys. That's what we've got. We'll stick with them." When asked about the 11 blown saves Manuel said, "You're supposed to win a majority of those games. Exactly what percent I don't know, but it's goddamn high." Lidge is now 0-3 with a 11.57 ERA since September 8th. Opposing hitters are batting .391 against him.

This weekend the Phillies face the Milwaukee Brewers (75-77). After making the playoffs last season. the Brewers look to just finish up above .500. A winning series against Philadelphia is needed to reach that goal.

Pitching Matchups:

9/24/09 at Mil J.A. Happ, LHP (10-4, 2.77) vs. Jeff Suppan, RHP (7-10, 4.76) 8:05pm

9/25/09 at Mil Cliff Lee, LHP (14-11, 2.99) vs. Manny Parra, LHP (10-10, 6.42) 8:05pm

9/26/09 at Mil Pedro Martinez, RHP (5-1, 3.32)  vs. Braden Looper, RHP (13-7, 5.12) 7:05pm

9/27/09 at Mil Joe Blanton, RHP (11-7, 3.82) vs. Dave Bush, RHP (5-8, 6.22) 2:05pm

Quick Hits:

• The Phillies lead the league in homeruns, RBI's doubles, extra base hits, total bases, slugging percentage, hit by pitch, and runs per game.
• The Phillies are 19-12 against N.L. Central teams. They have the second best winning percentage against the Central Division in the league.
• Ryan Howard became only the fourth player in major league baseball history to hit 40 homeruns and have 130 RBI's in four consecutive seasons. He joins Babe Ruth, Ken Griffey Jr, and Sammy Sosa.
• The Phillies lead the National League with a 81.3% stolen base percentage.
• The Phillies are 46-34 all time against the Milwaukee Brewers.
• Philadelphia is 10-13 all time at Miller Park.
• The Phillies have won 11 of their last 17 games against the Brewers.
• The Phillies have homered in 19 of 23 games at Miller Park.

Pitchers Scouting Report:

9/24:

Phillies: Happ left Friday's game after just three innings for precautionary reasons. He had missed his previous two starts because of a strained right intercostal muscle, and when he appeared to favor it on a play in the third inning, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel decided to take him out of the game. Happ said he was fine. He said he felt no pain or discomfort, but because the Phillies already were without left-handers Scott Eyre, J.C. Romero and Jack Taschner in the bullpen, Manuel wants to make sure Happ is healthy in case he needs him in the bullpen in the postseason.

Brewers: Suppan has worked seven quality innings in each of his last two starts, including a win over the Astros on Saturday in which he set a season high with seven strikeouts. It was Suppan's third win at Miller Park in 14 home starts; he's 3-7 with a 5.92 ERA at home and 4-3 with a 3.56 ERA in 13 starts on the road. Suppan missed the Phillies when the Brewers went through Philadelphia in April, but he's 3-6 against them in his career with a 6.13 ERA.

9/25:

Phillies: Lee pitched just four innings Sunday against the Braves at Turner Field, but only because of a 1 hour, 51 minute rain delay. He had allowed five hits and one run to that point. Lee wanted to run back out there, but the Phillies told him it wasn't worth the risk. It made sense. While it would have been nice to have Lee pitch a few more innings, they want to make sure he is healthy for the postseason. He is 7-2 with a 2.65 ERA since he joined the Phillies on July 29.

Brewers: This is Yovani Gallardo's slot and the Brewers will give it to Parra, who has not started since developing a stiff neck and exiting a Sept. 8 start against the Cardinals. Parra declared himself "100 percent healthy" after throwing a series of bullpen sessions this week and will have two starts to author a positive finish to his disappointing season. He has the highest ERA of any Major League pitcher with at least 80 innings.

9/26:

Phillies: Martinez left Saturday's game against the Braves after just three innings because he pulled a muscle on the right side of his neck while swinging a bat. He allowed three runs in those three innings in the 6-4 loss at Turner Field. Martinez likened the neck pain to sleeping in a bad position. He is hopeful his neck will be fine by Saturday.

Brewers: Looper surrendered two more home runs against the Cubs on Monday to set a dubious club record. He's surrendered 37 homers this season, most in the Majors and one more than former Brewers lefty Wayne Franklin allowed in 2003. He pitched six scoreless innings in his start against the Phillies on April 22, one of only six starts (of 32) this season in which Looper hasn't allowed at least one home run. He's surrendered one in 11 of his last 12 starts, but remains tied for the team lead in wins.

9/27:

Phillies: Blanton allowed just two hits and two walks and struck out nine in seven scoreless innings in a 9-3 victory over the Marlins in Game 1 of a doubleheader Tuesday at Land Shark Stadium. Combined with six shutout innings the previous Thursday against the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park, Blanton (11-7) has now thrown 13 consecutive scoreless innings. Blanton threw a career-high 18 consecutive scoreless innings Aug. 16-31, 2005, when he pitched for Oakland. Blanton is 9-4 with a 2.78 ERA in 21 starts since May 21 in Cincinnati, where he allowed five runs in five innings. His ERA ranks 10th in the Majors and seventh in the National League in that span.

Brewers: Five days after he beat the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Bush surrendered more earned runs -- five -- than he recorded outs -- four -- in a loss at Miller Park. Bush lasted only 1 1/3 innings in his shortest start of the season and lost for the first time in three starts. He'll face the Phillies for the first time since April 23, when Bush took a no-hitter into the eighth inning only to lose it on a Matt Stairs home run. He still won that day, allowing one run on two hits in a season-high 7 2/3 innings.

Coming Up:

The Houston Astros come to Citizens Bank Park where the Phillies look to repay them for the four game sweep they endured over Labor Day Weekend.

Preseries Quick Hits: Phillies vs. Braves 9/18, 9/19, 9/20/2009

The Philadelphia Phillies (85-60) are 25 games above .500 for the first time since October of 1993. They are at Turner Field in Atlanta to try to put the final nail in the coffin on the Braves (78-68) chances of winning the N.L. East in 2009. The Fightin' Phils just completed a homestand that saw them go 6-1 and over take the St Louis Cardinals for the second best record in the National League. The Phillies magic number is down to 10!

The Braves are going to be fighting for their baseball lives so expect a hard fought action packed series this weekend!

Pitching Matchups:

9/18/09 at Atl J.A. Happ, LHP (10-4, 2.77) vs. Tim Hudson, RHP (1-0, 3.63) 7:30pm

9/19/09 at Atl Pedro Martinez, RHP (5-0, 2.87) vs. Javier Vazquez, RHP (13-9, 3.01) 7:00pm

9/20/09 at Atl Cliff Lee, LHP (14-11, 3.00) vs. Tommy Hanson, RHP (10-3, 2.65) 1:30pm

Quick Hits:

• The Phillies begin their final road trip of the 2009 regular season with a major league best 43-28 record on the road. They have led in winning percentage on the road all season.
• After the 6-1 homestand against National League East opponents, the Phillies have a 40-23 record against their division rivals, best in the division.
• The Phillies are 9-1 in season series against the National League. They lost their season series to the Dodgers. The have losing records against the Braves and Astros and will need to sweep both series to end the season at .500 against them.
• The Phillies all time record against the Braves is 1079-1186.
• Philadelphia is 135-158 all time in Atlanta and 51-54 at Turner Field.
• The Phillies are 11-4 in their last 15 games at Turner Field.

Pitcher's Scouting Report:

9/18:

Phillies: Consider Happ a tentative starter for the moment. He strained his intercostal muscle before his scheduled Sept. 7 against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. He missed that start and Saturday's start against the Mets at Citizens Bank Park. Left-hander Jamie Moyer pitched in Happ's place in both of those games, and he would take his place again if he is unable to pitch Friday against the Braves at Turner Field. The Phillies certainly would love to have Happ back in the rotation. He is a National League Rookie of the Year candidate.Braves: Hudson has been in position to win each of the three starts that he's made since returning from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery. Most of the 14 hits he's surrendered in his past two outings have occurred in bunches. While allowing four runs in five innings against the Cardinals on Saturday, he surrendered four consecutive first-inning hits and exited after allowing three straight hits to open the sixth. In his lone start against the Phillies last year, Hudson allowed one run in 7 2/3 innings.

9/19:

Phillies: Martinez has been terrific since signing with the Phillies, especially his last outing on Sunday night. In that game, the right-hander threw 130 pitches, 80 for strikes and exited to a standing ovation at Citizens Bank Park during a 1-0 win over the Mets. Martinez seems to have recaptured the magic he lost with the Mets last season. He had command of all of his pitches and kept the Mets hitters off balance all night.

Braves: Vazquez dominated the Cardinals during his second complete-game effort of the season on Sunday. His line -- two earned runs and seven hits -- didn't provide indication of how impressive he was. Before surrendering four straight singles in a two-run ninth, he had allowed just two hits and thrown 79 pitches. The 33-year-old right-hander has won three straight decisions and allowed a total of two runs in those three victories. Each of the four runs he surrendered against the Phillies on Aug. 16 came via the two homers he surrendered to Ryan Howard.

9/20:

Phillies: In Lee's last start vs. Washington, he was terrific with a complete-game performance. He allowed six hits while walking three and striking out nine en route to a shutout. After three mediocre starts, Lee was virtually unhittable this time around as he frustrated the Nationals hitters. When Lee has control early, he's that much tougher to beat. Lee has tossed six complete games this season between his stint in Cleveland and his time with the Phillies. Getting the injury-ravaged bullpen a rest is always huge.

Braves: Hanson has worked 17 consecutive scoreless innings and surrendered just two runs over his last 24 innings. One of those runs came via the Ryan Howard solo shot he allowed during his rain-shortened two-inning stint against the Phillies on Aug. 28. That outing also accounted for the only loss he's experienced during an eight-start stretch that has included a 5-1 record and 2.42 ERA. The 23-year-old right-hander surrendered one hit through six innings against the Mets on Tuesday and then allowed two more singles before concluding his seven scoreless innings.

Coming Up:

The Phillies head to Land Shark Stadium to face the Florida Marlins and possibly clinch National League East!

Preseries Quick Hits: Phillies vs. Nationals 9/15, 9/16, 9/17/2009

The Philadelphia Phillies (82-60) have 20 more games left in the regular season as they look to win their third division title and straighten out the back end of their bullpen. The Washington Nationals (50-93) are in Philadelphia to face the division leaders with the hopes of evaluating talent and playing the role of spoiler.

While the Phillies are in the driver's seat in the division with a magic number of 13, they have concerns about home field advantage and who is going to be their closer. The Phillies have the worst record for division leaders going into tonight's series but they are tied with the Cardinals in the loss column and have one more loss than the Dodgers. With a strong finish, the Phillies could still secure home field through the National League playoffs.

For that to happen, they need to find someone that can consistently save games. Brad Lidge has had command problems and continues to struggle in the role. Ryan Madson's numbers as a closer have been worse then Lidge's, and Brett Myers has not been given a chance to see if he can pick up where he left off in 2007. 20 games is not a lot of time to fix this problem.

Pitching Match Ups:

9/15/09 vs. Was Garrett Mock, RHP (3-7, 5.75) vs. Cliff Lee, LHP (13-11, 3.13) 7:05pm

9/16/09 vs. Was Livan Hernandez, RHP (8-10, 5.30) vs. Joe Blanton, RHP (9-7, 4.11) 7:05pm

9/17/09 vs. Was J.D. Martin, RHP (4-4, 4.29) vs. Cole Hamels, LHP (9-9, 4.21) 7:05pm

Other Quick Hits:

• The Phillies starters have the second lowest ERA (3.26) of any major league team since the All Star Break.
• The Phillies have the best record in the National League East against division opponents at 37-23.
• The Phillies have hit 27 homeruns against the Nationals this season. They have 204 as a team, the fifth time they have surpassed the 200 mark.
• The Phillies are 360-324 all time against the Nationals.
• They are 34-19 against Washington at Citizens Bank Park.
• The Phillies are 23-6 in their last 29 games against Washington.

Pitchers Scouting Report:

9/15:

Nationals: Mock couldn't hold a 1-0 lead after an inning as Philadelphia scored three runs in the top of the second. Jayson Werth highlighted the scoring with an RBI single. Philadelphia made it a 4-1 game in the fifth, when Ryan Howard scored all the way from first on a double by Raul Ibanez. Mock, who lasted five innings and gave up four runs, has not looked good in his past two outings. He has kept the ball up most of the time.

Phillies: Lee went 5-0 with a 0.68 ERA in his first five starts with the Phillies, but is 1-2 with a 9.60 ERA in his last three. He allowed 10 hits, five runs, four earned runs and struck out four in seven-plus innings Wednesday in a victory over the Nationals at Nationals Park. Lee suffered some bad luck in that game. A missed double play cost him a run in the seventh, and an error cost him a run in the eighth. Regardless, the Phillies are hoping Lee gets back on track against the same team that got 10 hits against him last week.

9/16:

Nationals: Hernandez, the beneficiary of a lot of run support, won his first game as a member of the Nationals this season last Thursday. He pitched 7 1/3 innings and gave up two runs on six hits. It was Hernandez's first win for Washington since Aug. 1, 2006.

Phillies: Blanton hopes to return to form after struggling Thursday in a loss to the Nationals at Nationals Park. He allowed seven hits and eight runs in 4 2/3 innings. "I [stunk]," Blanton said. Blanton had been much better for several months. He was 7-3 with a 2.59 ERA in 18 starts from May 26 through Sept. 5. His ERA ranked eighth best in the Majors and sixth best in the NL in that stretch. His 11 consecutive quality starts before Thursday were a career high. The problem Thursday? Simple: command. He threw hanging breaking balls and fastballs over the heart of the plate, and the Nationals didn't miss.

9/17:

Nationals: Martin turned in another quality performance against the Marlins on Friday. Five days after taking a no-decision in a 5-4 Nationals win, the right-hander earned a victory by holding Florida to two runs on two hits over five innings while striking out four and walking four. Martin has now won two of his last four starts and pitched five or more innings in his last seven outings.

Phillies: Hamels has pitched very well in three of his past four starts, having allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings against the Mets on Monday. The left-hander did not have his best fastball, instead relying on changeups and curveballs. His one recent blip was a six-inning, four-run performance against the Pirates on Sept. 1. Still, Hamels is 3-1 with a 1.51 ERA since Aug. 26. He has struck out 28 and walked six over those 29 2/3 innings.

Coming Up:

The Atlanta Braves host a weekend series at Turner Field for an N.L. East showdown this weekend.

Preseries Quick Hits: Phillies vs. Mets 9/11, 9/12, 9/13, 9/13/2009

The Philadelphia Phillies (79-59) will host the New York Mets (62-78) in a four game series with a day night doubleheader on Sunday. The Turnpike Series has been quiet in 2009 as the Phillies took a commanding lead in the division while the Mets have fallen 16 games under .500.

The Mets now look to play the role of spoiler and with a series win combined with the Florida Marlins winning, New York could make the National League East a pennant race again. Look for them to play hard this weekend.

Pitching Matchups:

9/11/09 vs. NYM Nelson Figueroa, RHP (2-4, 4.74) vs. Cole Hamels, LHP (8-9, 4.32) 7:05pm

9/12/09 vs. NYM Mike Pelfrey, RHP (10-10, 4.83) vs. Jamie Moyer, LHP (12-9, 4.98) 4:05pm

9/13/09 vs. NYM John Maine, RHP (5-4, 4.52) vs. Kyle Kendrick, RHP (0-1, 5.06) 1:05pm

9/13/09 vs. NYM Tim Redding, RHP (2-5, 5.78) vs. Pedro Martinez, RHP (4-0, 3.64) 8:05pm

Other Quick Hits:

• The Phillies have 199 homeruns in 2009 which leads the National League. They need 1 homerun to reach the 200 mark for the 5th time in franchise history.
• The Phillies have sold out 88% of their home dates in 2009 and have 59 sellouts so far in 67 home dates.
• Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, Chase Utley, and Raul Ibanez became the 12th foursome in major league history to have 30 homeruns in the same season. It was the first time a Phillies team accomplished this. The 2006 White Sox were the last team to do so.
• The Phillies 34-22 record against the National League East is the best in the division.
• The Phillies are 435-380 all time against the New York Mets.
• They are 25-26 all time at Citizens Bank Park and were 152-121 all time at Veteran's Stadium.
• The Phillies are 24-16 in their last 40 games against the Mets.

Pitchers Scouting Report:

9/11:

Mets: Facing the same opponent he had beaten six days earlier, Figueroa produced decidedly different results Saturday. The Cubs managed merely one run and struck out 10 times in seven innings against him on Aug. 30 at Wrigley Field. But with a more pitcher-friendly setting on Saturday, Figueroa allowed four runs -- on a pair of two-run home runs -- in six innings against the Cubs and lost at Citi Field. He struck out eight, two fewer than his career high, and walked two, but he wasn't nearly as sharp as he had been in Chicago. Now, Figueroa faces the Phillies in their smallish park. He has opposed them twice in relief this season -- pitching 3 1/3 innings and allowing two runs -- and he threw one other inning against them in 2006. Figueroa's ERA in 13 2/3 innings on the road this season in 1.32.

Phillies: Hamels had a so-so outing against the Astros last Sunday, allowing four earned runs in six innings, throwing 114 pitches, 77 of which were strikes, while falling to 8-9 for the season. Hamels has struggled against the Mets, entering Friday's game with a 1-4 record and a 4.50 ERA in eight starts. Hamels has given up 63 hits and 24 earned runs in 63 innings against the Mets.

9/12:

Mets: Following extended conversations with manager Jerry Manuel and sage Alex Cora, Pelfrey completed eight innings for the first time in 28 starts this season, beating the Cubs at Citi Field on Sunday. Pelfrey allowed six baserunners and one run, and he needed merely 105 pitches -- 25 in the seventh inning and 10 to his final batter -- to do so. Pelfrey returned to his two-seam fastball and threw it for strikes the way he hadn't in his two previous starts, in which he walked 10 in 9 2/3 innings. Next, he faces the team he has beaten three times in four starts this season -- the Phillies. The Mets lost Pelfrey's no-decision against Philadelphia this year. The right-hander's ERA in 24 1/3 innings against the Phillies is 3.70, and though his career ERA in Citizens Bank Park is 5.28 in 15 1/3 innings, he has a 1-1 record there. Pelfrey has surrendered 30 home runs in 453 career innings. Chase Utley has faced him 23 times and hit three of the 30.

Phillies: Left-hander J.A. Happ will miss his second start because of a strained oblique, which means Moyer will get his second start in his place. He allowed three hits and two runs in six innings Monday in a loss to Houston at Minute Maid Park. He went 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA (two earned runs in 13 1/3 innings) in three relief appearances since the Phillies demoted him to the bullpen to make room for Pedro Martinez.

9/13:

Mets: Ninety-eight days and untold uncertainty and pain will have passed between starts when Maine takes the mound Sunday evening. In a week of month of comebacks for the Mets -- David Wright and Carlos Beltran have preceded him -- Maine's return this year was as uncertain as any. He opposes a team he didn't face in the 11 starts he made before his shoulder said "no mas," a team he has beaten five times, against no losses, in nine career starts. Maine's ERA in 56 2/3 innings against the Phillies is 2.54, his best against any opponent he has faced more than once. Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard have combined for nine hits in 28 at-bats against him, two of them home runs by Howard. Chase Utley, Shane Victorino, Pedro Feliz and Carlos Ruiz have a combined .339 average in 59 at-bats against Maine. He has allowed only two home runs in 19 2/3 innings at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies hit five others against him in 37 innings at Shea Stadium.

Phillies: It is not official, but Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said he is leaning toward starting Kendrick in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Mets. It would be Kendrick's first start since last season. Kendrick spent most of this season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he went 9-7 with a 3.34 ERA in 24 starts. He is 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA in four relief appearances this year for the Phillies, but is scoreless in his past three.

9/13:

Mets: After a string of three solid starts, Redding labored through five innings against the Marlins on Tuesday, yielding a pair of two-run homers, to Hanley Ramirez and Cameron Maybin. Redding also had issues with his control, walking four and throwing 49 of his 102 pitches for balls. After the game, Redding said it was "probably the worst day I've ever had with command of the fastball." Redding, however, has mastered the Phillies throughout his career and particularly the last two seasons. He is 5-3 with a 3.13 ERA in 13 career starts against Philadelphia. Redding went 3-1 against the Phillies last season while with the Nationals, and he has a 2.25 ERA facing them this year, including five one-hit innings on two days' rest on August 22. Redding is 1-1 with a 2.00 ERA in three career starts at Citizens Bank Park. While Chase Utley is 10-for-22 off of Redding, Jimmy Rollins (6-for-38) and Ryan Howard (3-for-26) have struggled mightily against the right-hander.

Phillies: Martinez has made progress in his last two starts. He is 2-0 with a 2.63 ERA. In 13 2/3 innings, he has allowed 12 hits, four runs and one walk and has struck out 12. Opponents have hit .231 against him. His 119 pitches Tuesday against the Nationals were his most since 2005. He hopes to keep pitching deep in games. If he can, he could work himself into the Phillies' postseason rotation.

Coming Up:

The Washington Nationals visit Philadelphia for a midweek series.

Phillies First Pitch:

Phillies first pitch will be on our sister site Turnpike Series, the Phillies Mets Rivalry page.

Preseries Quick Hits: Phillies vs. Astros 9/4, 9/5, 9/6/2009

The Philadelphia Phillies (77-54) are in Houston to play the Astros (63-70) in a four game set. The Phillies bats have been quiet but good pitching helped them take 2 out of 3 in their last series against the Giants. Their battle now is to have a better record than the Dodgers and Cardinals to ensure home field advantage through the National League playoffs. They are currently 2 games behind St Louis and 3 games behind L.A.

Brett Myers returns to the Phillies tonight and will serve as a set up man in the bullpen. Clay Condrey was scratched from his rehab assignment and will see the team doctor tomorrow. Ruben Amaro said it was possible that his injury could be season ending.

Pitching Matchups:

9/4/09 at Hou Cliff Lee, LHP (12-10, 2.83) vs. Wandy Rodriguez, LHP (12-9, 2.93) 8:05pm

9/5/09 at Hou Joe Blanton, RHP (9-6, 3.77) vs. Roy Oswalt, RHP (8-5, 3.80) 7:05pm

9/6/09 at Hou Cole Hamels, LHP (8-8, 4.26) vs. Bud Norris, RHP (3-3, 6.61) 2:05pm

9/7/09 at Hou TBA vs. TBA 2:05pm

Quick Hits:

• The Phillies 41-23 road record is still the best in 2009 in major league baseball.
• Jimmy Rollins has only 3 errors in 2009. He as a team record 80 game errorless streak, a .994 fielding percentage. His career fielding percentage is .983, second best for shortstops in major league history to Omar Vizquel.
• The Phillies have 72 quality starts in 2009. Since August 11 the Phillies have a major league leading 2.60 ERA.
• The Phillies continue to struggle with runners in scoring position (RISP). They have only 12 hits in their last 83 at bats with RISP and are 11th in in the National League with a .253 average.
• The Phillies are 277-262 all time against the Astros.
• They are 13-18 at Minute Made Park. They were 88-123 at the Astrodome.

Pitchers Scouting Report:

9/4:

Phillies: Lee suffered his worst start with the Phillies on Saturday against the Braves when he allowed 10 hits and six runs in just five innings. It was Lee's shortest start and most runs allowed since June 30, when he lasted just three innings and allowed seven runs against the White Sox. It was the first time he had allowed three home runs since June 8, 2007, against Cincinnati, and just the seventh time in his career it happened. That said, he is 5-1 with a 1.80 ERA.

Astros: After going 4-0 with a 0.75 ERA in July and being named the Pitcher of the Month for the National League, the left-hander went 2-3 with a 4.00 ERA in August. Those numbers were skewed by his Aug. 14 start against the Brewers in which he gave up 10 hits and 10 runs in four innings. In his previous start on Sunday in Arizona, he allowed seven hits and four runs in six innings. Rodriguez has appeared in three games against the Phillies (one start) in his career and is 0-1 with an 8.10 ERA.

9/5:

Phillies: Blanton was outstanding in his last outing against the Braves on Sunday. The hard-throwing right-hander gave up three hits and one earned run in seven strong innings, his career-best 10th consecutive quality start. Blanton was around the plate most of the night and threw 111 pitches, 66 for strikes. The only run he surrendered was a solo homer to Martin Prado in the first inning. Blanton settled down after that and shut down the Braves the rest of the way.

Astros: Oswalt won for the second time in three starts Monday by holding the Cubs to six hits and two runs in seven innings at Wrigley Field. He went 2-1 in August, improving his career record for the month to 28-7. But he's been equally as dominant in his career in September/October, going 28-8 with a 2.54 ERA in 44 starts. Last year, he was 5-1 with a 1.42 ERA in six September starts. Oswalt is 6-1 with a 3.28 ERA in his career against the Phillies in 10 games (eight starts). He was 1-0 against Philadelphia last year in one start. 

9/6:

Phillies: Hamels may have finally gotten himself on track. He has thrown 19 consecutive scoreless innings, tying his career high. Against the Giants on Tuesday, Hamels struck out nine and issued one walk, in the ninth inning. He threw seven 1-2-3 innings and at one point retired 21 straight batters. He has said it all clicked for him during his start against the Mets on Aug. 21. Since then, he has been pitching more relaxed. The 25-year-old lefty has never lost to the Astros, going 3-0 with a 4.41 ERA in five career starts.Astros: The Astros took advantage of Thursday's off day to let Wandy Rodriguez and Roy Oswalt pitch on normal rest in the first two games of the Phillies series, pushing Norris back to Sunday. After going 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA in his first three starts, he's 0-3 with a 13.11 ERA in his past three starts. His previous two starts have come against Arizona, against whom he gave up five hits and six runs in five innings in Phoenix on Aug. 29. This will be his first appearance against the Phillies.

9/7:

Phillies: TBA. Could Jamie Moyer get a spot start?

Astros: TBA

Coming Up:

The Phillies head to the nations capital to face the Washington Nationals.

Preseries Quick Hits: Phillies vs. Giants... A Preview of the NLDS?

The San Francisco Giants (72-59) are at Citizens Bank Park to face the Philadelphia Phillies (75-53) in what could be a preview of the National League Division Series. The Giants offense is suspect but their pitching depth could scare even a great lineup such as the Phillies in a short series. The three game set begins tonight at 7:05pm.

Pitching Match Ups:

9/1/09 vs. SF Jonathan Sanchez, LHP (6-10, 4.27) vs. Cole Hamels, LHP (7-8, 4.52) SF 7:05pm

9/2/09 vs. SF Tim Lincecum, RHP (13-4, 2.33) vs. J.A. Happ, LHP (10-3, 2.63) 7:05pm

9/3/09 vs. SF TBA vs. Pedro Martinez, RHP (2-0, 4.50) SF 7:05pm

Other Quick Hits:

• The Phillies are 21-8 at Citizens Bank Park since July 1.
• The Phillies are 26-14 in 2009 against left handed pitchers.
• 307 of the Phillies 665 runs in 2009 have been scored via a homerun. That is a 46.2% mark.
• The Phillies are 901-1230 all time against the Giants.
• The Phillies are 10-6 all time against the Giants at Citizens Bank Park. They were 104-78 at Veterans Stadium.
• The Phillies are 5-2-2 in their last nine series against San Francisco.

Pitchers Scouting Report:

9/1:

Giants: Dating back to his July 10 no-hitter against San Diego, Sanchez has fashioned a 4-2 record with a 3.02 ERA in nine starts. Opponents have hit .168 (33-for-196) off him in that span. Though his road statistics look unimpressive (2-8, 4.81 ERA), he's 2-0 with a 0.95 ERA in his past three outings away from home. Sanchez, who has never pitched at Citizens Bank Park, defeated the Phillies on July 30 at AT&T Park, where he allowed two runs and three hits in 5 2/3 innings as the Giants triumphed, 7-2.

Phillies: Hamels had not been himself for much of 2009, but he looked like his old self Wednesday in a 4-1 victory over the Pirates at PNC Park. He threw eight shutout innings. He allowed seven hits and two walks and struck out seven. Time will tell if it was just a one start thing or the beginning of something good heading into September and October, when Hamels shined last year in the playoffs. "I have the stuff to be here," Hamels said. "I have the stuff to succeed. I have the stuff to succeed in the postseason. Why was I getting carried away trying to be somebody else I'm not?"

9/2:

Giants: Lincecum pitched eight shutout innings on Friday against the Rockies, winning for the first time since Aug. 1. He struck out eight and allowed just four hits while throwing a season-high 127 pitches. On his fifth try, Lincecum broke through for his 13th win. He was 0-1 in his previous four starts before beating the Rockies. Lincecum is 1-0 against the Phillies this year, having pitched eight shutout innings with eight strikeouts in a 2-0 win on Aug. 1 at AT&T Park.

Phillies: Happ came so close to becoming the first Phillies rookie to win 11 games in a season since Bob Walk in 1980. But a two-out, two-run home run Thursday against the Pirates at PNC Park ended that in a 3-2 loss. Still, Happ continues to pitch well. He is 10-3 with a 2.63 ERA, the lowest ERA of any Phillies rookie since Ben Tincup's 2.61 ERA in 1914.

9/3:

Giants: TBA

Phillies: The baseball gods have been against Martinez lately. He has pitched twice at Citizens Bank Park this season, but both starts have been shortened after just three and two innings, respectively, because of rain. This will be Martinez's third start in Philadelphia since he debuted with the Phillies on Aug. 12 against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. He is hoping this time there are clear skies.

Coming Up:

The Phillies head to Houston to face the Astros in a weekend series.