Phillies Preview: September 3, 2009

San Francisco Giants (73-60) at Philadelphia Phillies (76-54)
7:05pm - Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA

Pedro Martinez, RHP (2-0, 4.50) v. Tim Lincecum, RHP (13-4, 2.33)

Pedro Martinez will get the start in the finale of the series. The Phillies will look to get him through a start at home without a rain delay to see what he has to offer. Thus far this season, Martinez has looked good but not great. He will take on Tim Lincecum, who might be one of the best pitchers in the game today. He features dominant command and the ability to strike out anyone in the lineup. This will be a very tough game for the Phillies.

The Phillies will hopefully get to see Pedro Martinez go deep into a game for the first time at home, as no rain is in the forecast. The Phillies will send Pedro to the mound in this rubber match of the series, against one of the best pitchers in the league. It will be an especially tough task for Martinez, as pitching in the hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park will not help the career .287 average that current Giants have against him in 93 plate appearances. The key for Pedro tonight will be to work quickly and ahead of the Giants.

Tim Lincecum is in line to win his second consecutive Cy Young award as he has been magnificent again this season. The righty is a hard-throwing, diminutive kid, with a lot of heart. He locates well and blows his opponents away with regularity, as he leads the league in strikeouts. Current Phillies know how good Lincecum can be, as they lost to him once already this season. In 202 career plate appearances, they have a very low .202 batting average. Patience, which they did not have last night, will be important against the Giants' ace.

With an ugly loss last night, the Phillies are in search of their offense again. Faltering against a stellar pitching staff of the Giants does not instill hope in the team's offensive competence, as they head towards the playoffs. In what could very well be a preview of the NLDS, the Phillies need to demonstrate the ability to beat a top-line pitcher like Lincecum tonight.