Phillies Preview: Astros Series 9/4 - 9/7

Philadelphia Phillies (77-54) at Houston Astros (63-70)

The Phillies will take their show back to the road to face their final new opponent of the year, the Houston Astros. The four-game wrap-around series will kick off their seven game road trip. The Astros have had another mediocre season and have been all but eliminated from the wild card race. Nevertheless, they are a dangerous team that can pitch and hit with the best in the league. If the Phillies can play well against Houston, they can put a serious dent in their magic number this weekend.

September 4, 2009
8:05pm - Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX
Cliff Lee, LHP (5-1, 1.80) v. Wandy Rodriguez, LHP (12-9, 2.93)

The opener of the series will feature one of the better pitching match ups of the year as Cliff Lee takes on Wandy Rodriguez. Lee has been stellar since joining the Phillies, despite getting hit hard in his last outing. Meanwhile, Rodriguez has been the Astros' most consistent starter this season. The two lefties hold ERAs under 3.00 and will face off in what will likely be a low-scoring affair.

Pitching Primer: Cliff Lee

2009 Road Splits: (7-3) 14 G, 101.0 IP, 2.67 ERA, 70 K

Career at Minute Maid Park: n/a

Career vs. Astros Hitters: 41 PA, .256 BA, 2 HR, 9 K

Pitching Primer: Wandy Rodriguez

2009 Home Splits: (7-2) 12 G, 83.0 IP, 1.73 ERA, 72 K

Career at Minute Maid Park: (29-20) 69 G, 404.1 IP, 3.63 ERA, 327 K

Career vs. Phillies Hitters: 32 PA, .400 BA, 2 HR, 5 K

September 5, 2009
7:05pm - Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX
Joe Blanton, RHP (9-6, 3.77) v. Roy Oswalt, RHP (8-5, 3.80)

Joe Blanton will get the start in game two against the Astros' ace, Roy Oswalt. The two righties have similar stats this season, and are very solid starters. Blanton has pitched very well since the middle of this year and will look to limit the Astros against one of the better pitchers in the league. Roy Oswalt has always pitched well against the Phillies and will try to keep their offense shut down.

Pitching Primer: Joe Blanton

2009 Road Splits: (3-3), 11 G, 67.0 IP, 3.76 ERA, 54 K

Career at Minute Maid Park: (1-0) 1 G, 7.0 IP, 3.86 ERA, 3 K

Career vs. Astros Hitters: 66 PA, .328 BA, 2 HR, 12 K

Pitching Primer: Roy Oswalt

2009 Home Splits: (3-2) 11 G, 70.1 IP, 3.58 ERA, 54 K

Career at Minute Maid Park: (75-24) 135 G, 912.2 IP, 2.75 ERA, 784 K

Career vs. Phillies Hitters: 210 PA, .328 BA, 6 HR, 39 K

September 6, 2009
2:05pm - Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX
Cole Hamels, LHP (8-8, 4.26) v. Bud Norris, RHP (3-3, 6.61)

The third game of the series will be an afternoon affair between Cole Hamels and Bud Norris. Hamels has put together a string of solid starts, in which he has held opponents scoreless for the last 19 innings. He will try to continue this success against the Astros' Bud Norris. Norris has been hit hard this season in limited action, and the righty will have the tough task of holding the Phillies offense down.

Pitching Primer: Cole Hamels

2009 Road Splits: (3-5) 13 G, 75.1 IP, 4.90 ERA, 55 K

Career at Minute Maid Park: (2-0) 3 G, 18.2 IP, 4.34 ERA, 19 K

Career vs. Astros Hitters: 60 PA, .302 BA, 1 HR, 7 K

Pitching Primer: Bud Norris

2009 Home Splits: (1-2) 3 G, 12.2 IP, 9.24 ERA, 12 K

Career at Minute Maid Park: (1-2) 3 G, 12.2 IP, 9.24 ERA, 12 K

Career vs. Phillies Hitters: n/a

September 7, 2009
2:05pm - Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX
J.A. Happ, LHP (10-4, 2.77) v. Brian Moehler, RHP (8-10, 5.11)

The series will wrap up with an afternoon game featuring Jay Happ and Brian Moehler. After getting off to a great start this season, Happ has run into trouble in his last two starts, where he has picked up two tough losses. He will be opposed by Brian Moehler, who has been an inning-eater this season with a relatively high ERA. The two will both look to get back on track in this final game.

Pitching Primer: J.A. Happ

2009 Road Splits: (6-2) 16 G, 86.1 IP, 1.88 ERA, 50 K

Career at Minute Maid Park: n/a

Career vs. Astros Hitters: n/a

Pitching Primer: Brian Moehler

2009 Home Splits: (3-6) 12 G, 63.0 IP, 6.14 ERA, 40 K

Career at Minute Maid Park: (10-12) 56 G, 184.2 IP, 5.12 ERA, 96 K

Career vs. Phillies Hitters: 153 PA, .317 BA, 7 HR, 19 K