Phillies Preview: Pirates Series 8/25 - 8/27

Philadelphia Phillies (72-50) at Pittsburgh Pirates (51-71)

The Pittsburgh Pirates are in full rebuilding mode, as was evidence by the numerous trades they made this season. The team is barely recognizable. The Phillies will come to town in the exact opposite situation. The Phillies, fresh off of a series win in New York will look to continue their dominance on the road, where they have won 40 games already this year. Though many of the Pirates players are not familiar, the Phillies will need to focus on this week, and avoid looking ahead to the Braves this weekend.

August 25, 2009
7:05pm - PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Joe Blanton, RHP (8-6, 3.86) v. Ross Ohlendorf, RHP (11-8, 4.15)

Joe Blanton is quietly putting together a solid season for the Phillies, though his record does not reflect how well he's pitched. Blanton will be opening the series against the Pirates and will look to take advantage of the young, inexperienced lineup. He will be opposed by Ross Ohlendorf, one of the Pirates' best starter this season. Ohlendorf leads the Pirates in wins and has posted a respectable ERA for most of the season.

Pitching Primer: Joe Blanton
2009 Road Splits: (3-3) 10 G, 61.0 IP, 3.69 ERA, 47 K
Career at PNC Park: n/a
Career vs. Pirates: 53 PA, .120 BA, 1 HR, 8 K

Pitching Primer: Ross Ohlendorf
2009 Home Splits: (8-2) 13 G, 77.2 IP, 3.01 ERA, 45 K

Career at PNC Park: (8-4) 16 G, 87.0 IP, 3.31 ERA, 53 K
Career vs. Pirates: 32 PA, .185 BA, 0 HR, 5 K

August 26, 2009
7:05pm - PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Cole Hamels, LHP (7-8, 4.78) v. Paul Maholm, LHP (7-7, 4.74)

For the past several months, Cole Hamels has just looked lost on the mound. He will face off with a similar pitcher with similar stats, in Paul Maholm. While Maholm started the season strong and faded, Hamels has never really looked comfortable. The pair of southpaws will look to improve their luck, though the task will clearly be harder for Maholm. Nevertheless, this is a trap game for the Phillies, as they face a lefty, with their struggling ace on the mound.

Pitching Primer: Cole Hamels
2009 Road Splits: (3-5) 12 G, 67.1 IP, 5.48 ERA, 48 K
Career at PNC Park: n/a
Career vs. Pirates: 38 PA, .243 BA, 3 HR, 10 K

Pitching Primer: Paul Maholm
2009 Home Splits: (4-2) 12 G, 79.1 IP, 3.52 ERA, 48 K
Career at PNC Park: (23-13) 60 G, 402.1 IP, 3.56 ERA, 235 K
Career vs. Phillies: 92 PA, .262 BA, 1 HR, 14 K

August 27, 2009
7:05pm - PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
J.A. Happ, LHP (10-2, 2.59) v. Charlie Morton, RHP (3-6, 5.21)

With only a quarter of the season left, J.A. Happ will have about eight more starts to solidify his candidacy for Rookie of the Year in the National League. Happ will look to be aggressive against the Pirates and continue his string of fantastic starts. He will square off with righty Charlie Morton, who has struggled this season. He will face a very difficult task of containing the Phillies offense in the finale of the series.

Pitching Primer: J.A. Happ
2009 Road Splits: (6-1) 15 G, 78.1 IP, 1.72 ERA, 46 K
Career at PNC Park: n/a
Career vs. Pirates: 17 PA, .125 BA, 0 HR, 3 K

Pitching Primer: Charlie Morton
2009 Home Splits: (2-3) 5 G, 29.1 IP, 3.07 ERA, 17 K
Career at PNC Park: (2-3) 5 G, 29.1 IP, 3.07 ERA, 17 K
Career vs. Phillies: 10 PA, .556 BA, 1 HR, 1 K