Phillies Preview: NLCS Starting Hitters

National League Championship Series
Philadelphia Phillies (93-69) v. Los Angeles Dodgers (95-67)

The National League Championship Series will feature two of the top offenses in baseball, as the power hitting Philadelphia Phillies square off with the consistent-hitting Los Angeles Dodgers. From a power perspective, the Phillies led the league in every major statistical category, and greatly out-performed the Dodgers. However, the Dodgers can pack a punch when needed and also feature a very good hitting team, carrying a very high team batting average. With solid pitching in this series, each offense must take advantage of every opportunity it has.

Key Hitters: Los Angeles Dodgers

Matt Kemp, R - Matt Kemp is emerging as one of the rising speed and power players in the league. In his second full season and fourth overall, Kemp posted career highs in home runs and RBIs and added over 30 stolen bases. The five-tool outfielder will be batting high in the Dodgers order this series and will play a critical role in the scoring for them. The 24-year old can be a little impatient at times, but is still a threat to drive the ball and steal bases.

Manny Ramirez, R - Manny Ramirez is the elder statesman of the powerful Dodger offense. The veteran slugger missed part of the 2009 season on a drug suspension, so his numbers were down. But the threat is still there with the 37-year old outfielder, as he mashed 19 homers. Ramirez his righties and lefties well and has power to all fields. With him in the middle of the Dodgers line up, there will be the threat of a lot of run-production for Los Angeles.

Andre Ethier, L - Andre Ethier is another emerging star in the Dodgers outfield. The young lefty hitter turned a corner this year and really improved. He set career highs in homers (31) and RBIs (106), despite his batting average suffering. Still, Ethier is the primary lefty power threat in the middle of the Dodgers order, and will pose a challenge in late game situations, as he is sandwiched by right-handed hitters. What the 27-year old does this series can impact a lot of facets of the games.

James Loney, L - James Loney is a lighter hitting lefty than Andre Ethier, but is still a dangerous force. The 25-year old Loney put up almost identical statistics as last season, and provides a gap-power hitter down in the Dodger order. Loney doesn't generate as much power as would be expected from a first baseman, but plays solid defense and always has good at bats. With Loney being the other key lefty for the Dodgers, late game matchup decisions will be determined by Loney's production this series.

Key Hitters: Philadelphia Phillies

Ryan Howard, L - Ryan Howard is becoming one of the truly legendary power hitters of this generation. Howard put together his fourth consecutive 40-homer, 130-RBI season and simply produces runs at a prolific rate. The big lefty slugger once again got hot late in the season and helped carry the Phillies offense down the stretch. The 29-year old performed fairly well in his playoff experience and will lead the power charge for the Phillies offense.

Chase Utley, L - Chase Utley is the quiet leader of the Phillies squad and he does it predominantly with his bat. The slugging second baseman had another superb season, eclipsing 30 home runs and 20 stolen bases. However, the 30-year old Utley did wear down as the season progressed and entered a prolonged slump to finish the season with a subpar batting average by his standards. Utley seemed to be his usual self in the NLDS so if he can continue that, the Phillies offense will soar.

Jayson Werth, R - Jayson Werth was an unheralded rising star coming into the 2009 season. The right-handed power hitter had a break out season and was named to the All-Star team. Werth will be of utmost importance in this series, as he is the biggest right-handed power threat for the Phillies. If the 30-year old can be a presence among all of the Phillies left-handed hitters, then their offense should be able to produce against all pitchers. Werth had a solid NLDS and will be critical to the Phillies' success against the Dodgers' lefties.

Jimmy Rollins, S - Jimmy Rollins is the offensive spark plug for the Phillies. The switch-hitting leadoff batter brings a unique combination of speed and power, and when he hits, the Phillies do well. Rollins reached the 20-homer, 20-stolen base plateau once again in 2009. The former MVP-shortstop will need to increase his on-base percentage in this series in order to be effective. If the Phillies can get their 30-year old star on base and around to score, they will be poised for success.

Starting Lineup: Los Angeles Dodgers

SS - Rafael Furcal, S - 150 G, .269 BA, 9 HR, 47 RBI, 12 SB

2009 vs. RHP: 145 G, .261 BA, 4 HR, 28 RBI

2009 vs. LHP: 68 G, .296 BA, 5 HR, 19 RBI

Career vs. PHI: 146 PA, .198 BA, .266 OBP, .282 SLG, 2 HR, 22 K

CF - Matt Kemp, R - 159 G, .297 BA, 26 HR, 101 RBI, 34 SB

2009 vs. RHP: 152 G, .278 BA, 18 HR, 76 RBI
2009 vs. LHP: 66 G, .362 BA, 8 HR, 25 RBI
Career vs. PHI: 86 PA, .329 BA, .384 OBP, .544 SLG, 3 HR, 21 K

RF - Andre Ethier, L - 160 G, .272 BA, 31 HR, 106 RBI, 6 SB

2009 vs. RHP: 146 G, .302 BA, 22 HR, 67 RBI
2009 vs. LHP: 94 G, .194 BA, 6 HR, 25 RBI
Career vs. PHI: 86 PA, .289 BA, .372 OBP, .592 SLG, 6 HR, 19 K

LF - Manny Ramirez, R - 104 G, .290 BA, 19 HR, 63 RBI, 0 SB

2009 vs. RHP: 101 G, .295 BA, 15 HR, 54 RBI
2009 vs. LHP: 34 G, .270 BA, 4 HR, 9 RBI
Career vs. PHI: 177 PA, .333 BA, .452 OBP, .631 SLG, 10 HR, 36 K

1B - James Loney, L - 158 G, .281 BA, 13 HR, 90 RBI, 7 SB

2009 vs. RHP: 147 G, .283 BA, 9 HR, 65 RBI
2009 vs. LHP: 71 G, .274 BA, 4 HR, 25 RBI
Career vs. PHI: 80 PA, .411 BA, .463 OBP, .575 SLG, 2 HR, 11 K

3B - Casey Blake, R - 139 G, .280 BA, 18 HR, 79 RBI, 3 SB

2009 vs. RHP: 134 G, .270 BA, 14 HR, 61 RBI
2009 vs. LHP: 58 G, .320 BA, 4 HR, 18 RBI
Career vs. PHI: 93 PA, .225 BA, .286 OBP, .363 SLG, 3 HR, 20 K

2B - Ronnie Belliard, R - 110 G, .275 BA, 10 HR, 39 RBI, 3 SB

2009 vs. RHP: 87 G, .273 BA, 6 HR, 30 RBI
2009 vs. LHP: 46 G, .282 BA, 4 HR, 9 RBI
Career vs. PHI: 103 PA, .247 BA, .314 OBP, .333 SLG, 2 HR, 14 K

C - Russell Martin, R - 143 G, .250 BA, 7 HR, 53 RBI, 11 SB

2009 vs. RHP: 138 G, .243 BA, 6 HR, 47 RBI
2009 vs. LHP: 57 G, .275 BA, 1 HR, 6 RBI
Career vs. PHI: 79 PA, .243 BA, .329 OBP, .371 SLG, 2 HR, 18 K

Starting Lineup: Philadelphia Phillies

SS - Jimmy Rollins, S: 155 G, .250 BA, 21 HR, 77 RBI, 31 SB

2009 vs. RHP: 146 G, .257 BA, 14 HR, 55 RBI

2009 vs. LHP: 80 G, .230 BA, 7 HR, 22 RBI

Career vs. LAD: 76 PA, .303 BA, .395 OBP, .606 SLG, 4 HR, 7 K

CF - Shane Victorino, S: 156 G, .292 BA, 10 HR, 62 RBI, 25 SB

2009 vs. RHP: 146 G, .283 BA, 8 HR, 50 RBI

2009 vs. LHP: 90 G, .314 BA, 2 HR, 12 RBI

Career vs. LAD: 59 PA, .216 BA, .298 OBP, .294 SLG, 1 HR, 10 K

2B - Chase Utley, L: 156 G, .282 BA, 31 HR, 93 RBI, 23 SB

2009 vs. RHP: 143 G, .279 BA, 20 HR, 60 RBI

2009 vs. LHP: 116 G, .288 BA, 11 HR, 33 RBI

Career vs. LAD: 68 PA, .255 BA, .397 OBP, .473 SLG, 3 HR, 18 K

1B - Ryan Howard, L: 160 G, .279 BA, 45 HR, 141 RBI, 8 SB

2009 vs. RHP: 144 G, .319 BA, 39 HR, 108 RBI

2009 vs. LHP: 124 G, .207 BA, 6 HR, 33 RBI

Career vs. LAD: 69 PA, .169 BA, .261 OBP, .356 SLG, 3 HR, 24 K

RF - Jayson Werth, R: 159 G, .268 BA, 36 HR, 99 RBI, 20 SB

2009 vs. RHP: 154 G, .256 BA, 22 HR, 62 RBI

2009 vs. LHP: 89 G, .302 BA, 14 HR, 37 RBI

Career vs. LAD: 60 PA, .271 BA, .417 OBP, .438 SLG, 2 HR, 16 K

LF - Raul Ibanez, L: 134 G, .272 BA, 34 HR, 93 RBI, 4 SB

2009 vs. RHP: 123 G, .267 BA, 21 HR, 53 RBI

2009 vs. LHP: 86 G, .285 BA, 13 HR, 40 RBI

Career vs. LAD: 170 PA, .362 BA, .424 OBP, .546 SLG, 5 HR, 24 K

3B - Pedro Feliz, R: 158 G, .266 BA, 12 HR, 82 RBI, 0 SB

2009 vs. RHP: 149 G, .282 BA, 6 HR, 63 RBI

2009 vs. LHP: 69 G, .208 BA, 6 HR, 19 RBI

Career vs. LAD: 102 PA, .260 BA, .284 OBP, .448 SLG, 5 HR, 17 K

C - Carlos Ruiz, R: 107 G, .255 BA, 9 HR, 43 RBI, 3 SB

2009 vs. RHP: 97 G, .242 BA, 5 HR, 26 RBI

2009 vs. LHP: 41 G, .293 BA, 4 HR, 17 RBI

Career vs. LAD: 32 PA, .542 BA, .656 OBP, 1.042 SLG, 2 HR, 1 K

Phillies NLCS Previews

Overview, Rotations, Bullpens, Hitters

Game Previews: One, Two, Three, Four, Five
Game Recaps: One, Two, Three, Four, Five