Phillies Recap: NLDS Game Three

National League Division Series - Game Three

Philadelphia Phillies 6, Colorado Rockies 5
W - Chad Durbin (1-0, 0.00), L - Huston Street (0-1, 4.50), S - Brad Lidge (1)

The critical third game of the National League Division Series was intense, exciting, and very cold. The Philadelphia Phillies and Colorado Rockies played in the coldest NLDS game (at the start of the game) and it was a nail-biter. Neither Jay Happ nor Jason Hammel lasted very long in the game and it became a bullpen battle. After a four hour affair, the Phillies finally surged ahead for good and took the important game three by a final score of 6-5.

Game Summary: Philadelphia Phillies

Jay Happ got the nod in the game instead of Joe Blanton and Pedro Martinez. From the outset, he struggled with a very inconsistent strike zone and, perhaps, the cold weather. After being spotted a quick lead, he surrendered three runs in the first two innings and was lifted for a pinch hitter after three unspectacular innings. Joe Blanton came in with a lead and also promptly allowed the game to be tied. However, he delivered 2.2 decent innings, allowing just one earned run. The Phillies pieced together three more relievers before getting to Brad Lidge in the ninth inning. Working with the slimmest of margins and the top of the Rockies order, Lidge delivered a heart-pounding save.

At the plate, the Phillies battled all night. They didn't have trouble getting base runners as they had eight hits and eight walks and scored six times. Chase Utley got things started with a first inning homer and both Ryan Howard and Carlos Ruiz delivered a pair of RBIs. However, a critical double play by Pedro Feliz killed a big rally in the fourth inning. The Phillies also struck out eleven times as a team, but were fortunate to have a number of timely hits to keep them in the game early.

Game Summary: Colorado Rockies

Jason Hammel started the game very strong, allowing just Utley's solo homer through the first three innings while fanning five. However, it all fell apart for him in the fourth inning, which he did not survive, as the Phillies tacked on several hits and walks. The Rockies' bullpen came in and did a decent job, allowing just two more runs over the rest of the game. However, the Phillies were able to rally in the ninth inning off of closer Huston Street to take the lead for good.

The Rockies were not very clutch in key hitting situations in the game. They seemed like they were just one big hit from taking control of the game, however that hit never came. They threatened in almost every inning, as Carlos Gonzalez was their spark plug once again. The Rockies managed 10 hits and four walks off of Phillies pitching, but they left eight men on base and went only two for nine with runners in scoring position. Down a run in the ninth with two men on, Brad Lidge induced a harmless fly out from Troy Tulowitzki to end the game.

Phillies NLDS Previews

Overview, Rotations, Bullpens, Hitters, Benches
Game Previews: One, Two, Three, Four
Game Recaps: One, Two, Three, Four

Phillies Preview: NLDS Game Three (updated)

National League Division Series - Game Three
Philadelphia Phillies (1-1) v. Colorado Rockies (1-1)

Sunday October 11, 2009 - 10:07pm ET
Coors Field, Denver, CO
41° F - Cold

J.A. Happ, LHP (12-4, 2.93) v. Jason Hammel, RHP (8-10, 4.33)

With a weather postponement on Saturday night, the National League Division Series will resume, tied at one game a piece. The Philadelphia Phillies will travel to Denver to take on the Colorado Rockies in a pivotal game three. After a change, the Phillies will send lefty J.A. Happ to the mound to oppose the Rockies' righty Jason Hammel. With the game time set for the evening, the weather will almost certainly come into play, as forecasts call for very cold temperatures and snow. The Rockies may have some momentum, returning home after splitting the games in Philly, but they will be facing the best road team in baseball this year.

Starting Pitcher: J.A. Happ, Phillies

Jay Happ was not initially going to start game three, but due to the game being pushed back a day, he gets the start. And that might just give the Phillies the edge in this game, as the Rockies have notoriously struggled against lefties this season. Happ features a sneaky fastball along with a changeup and slider. The 26-year old rookie typically pitches to contact and must keep his pitches down to avoid getting hurt, but has the ability to strike batters out in key situations. The lefty was especially effective on the road (1.99 ERA) and with runners in scoring position (.158 BA).

This year against the Rockies, Jay Happ delivered the signature performance of his season, shutting them out on four hits while striking out ten. He has limited postseason experience, but pitches with a lot of poise. In his career against the Rockies, Happ has delivered a .139 opponent batting average in 39 career plate appearacnes. Dexter Fowler has a double and a walk against Happ, but not many of the other Rockies have much of anything to build off of from Happ. Unless the Rockies can make some dramatic adjustments against a tough left-hander, they could be in for a long night against the Phillies.

Starting Pitcher: Jason Hammel, Rockies

Jason Hammel will get the surprise nod in game three for the Rockies. The big righty had a decent season for the Rockies, but doesn't have overwhelmingly good stuff. Hammel features a fastball, which he throws over 60% of the time and also throws a curveball and slider, and will show a changeup occasionally. He reaches the low 90s with his fastball and he gets some decent movement from his breaking pitches. This season, the 27-year old threw 176.2 innings, by far the most in his career, and he has no playoff pitching experience.

Hammel appeared in two games against the Phillies this season, winning his only start. However, he was the beneficiary of solid run support, as he was not especially sharp in the game. In his career against Phillies hitters, they are hitting .385 in 57 plate appearances. Matt Stairs has hit a pair of home runs off of Hammel in his career, but he still will not start. Hammel does have a much higher ERA (5.73) at Coors Field this year but does not have marked differences in his righty-lefty splits.

Starting Lineup: Philadelphia Phillies

Statistics versus Jason Hammel
1. Jimmy Rollins, SS (2/5, 1 HR, 0 K)

2. Shane Victorino, CF (3/5, 0 HR, 0 K)

3. Chase Utley, 2B (1/4, 0 HR, 1 K)

4. Ryan Howard, 1B (0/4, 0 HR, 1 K)

5. Jayson Werth, RF (1/4, 0 HR, 1 K)

6. Raul Ibanez, LF (4/8, 1 HR, 2 K)

7. Pedro Feliz, 3B (2/4, 0 HR, 1 K)

8. Carlos Ruiz, C (1/3, 0 HR, 1 K)

Starting Lineup: Colorado Rockies

Statistics versus J.A. Happ

1. Carlos Gonzalez, LF (0/0 BA, 0 HR, 0 K)

2. Dexter Fowler, CF (1/3, 0 HR, 1 K)
3. Todd Helton, 1B (1/5, 0 HR, 0 K)

4. Troy Tulowitzki, SS (0/5, 0 HR, 3 K)

5. Yorvit Torrealba, C (0/3, 0 HR, 0 K)

6. Garrett Atkins, 3B (1/3, 0 HR, 0 K)

7. Ryan Spilborghs, RF (0/3, 0 HR, 1 K)

8. Clint Barmes, 2B (0/4, 0 HR, 1 K)

Phillies NLDS Previews

Overview, Rotations, Bullpens, Hitters, Benches

Game Previews: One, Two, Three, Four

Game Recaps: One, Two, Three, Four

Phillies Recap: October 4, 2009

Philadelphia Phillies 7, Florida Marlins 6

W - Durbin (2-2), L - Meyer (3-2)

The Philadelphia Phillies finished off the 2009 regular season with a bang, as they walked off to their 93rd victory. Playing with a mostly backup team, the Phillies fought back against the Marlins late and eventually won the game in 10 innings. Jay Happ got the start and tossed a couple of innings in what was essentially a bullpen outing. But the Phillies were able to tag Marlins' ace Josh Johnson and knock him out early. In the end, it was a Paul Hoover walk-off single that sealed a 7-6 win.

The Phillies used eight pitchers in 10 innings, in what was likely final tune ups and auditions for the postseason. With the roster in flux, the Phillies need to decided how many pitchers to carry and which to take. Early on, the Phillies pitchers were getting hit, but the bullpen came in and settled things down, one inning at a time. On the afternoon, Phillies pitchers allowed six earned runs over 10 innings on 11 hits and struck out eight.

Josh Johnson didn't finish the season the way he wanted, getting hit around by the AAA-Phillies team and leaving after 4.2 innings. It was a dismal way for Johnson to end his great season, as he allowed five earned runs on seven hits and walk. After taking the lead, the Marlins' pen came in and allowed the game to be tied and eventually lost the game in the 10th innning. Collectively, they allowed seven earned runs over 9.2 innings on 12 hits and they fanned 13 Phillies.

The walk-off win was nice, as it put an exclamation point on the regular season. It also gives the team and fans a boost, heading in to their NLDS series against the Rockies. The win also ensures that the Phillies will have home field advantage over the Cardinals if both teams make it to the NLCS. Now up for the Phillies is deciding how to lay out their post season roster for a short five-game series.

Phillies Preview: October 4, 2009

Florida Marlins (87-74) at Philadelphia Phillies (92-69)

1:35pm - Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA

Josh Johnson, RHP (15-5, 3.08) v. J.A. Happ, LHP (12-4, 2.85)

The Phillies have made J.A. Happ their season finale starter. Happ will be opposed by one of the best pitchers in the league, Josh Johnson. Johnson has tremendous ability, but was defeated by the Phillies the last time these teams matched up in Florida. With the Phillies looking to have one final tune up before the playoffs, they may elect to field a mostly reserve-player team.

Happ has enjoyed a very successful rookie campaign. He will get the start this afternoon in preparation for the playoffs and a role that is unclear at this point. Starting today leaves the possibility for Happ to appear as a reliever in games one or two and also potentially start games three or four. He will face a Marlins team that has been hot of late. Happ will need to control his fastball and throw strikes early in order to have success.

Josh Johnson will close out the season for the Marlins. He will be pitching in front of a partial line up as some of the Marlins' key players will be held out due to injury. Though this game is of little consequence to either side, it will be a good match up for the Phillies, as Johnson is a very high-caliber pitcher. Johnson has quietly had a great season, though the Phillies did defeat him in their last meeting. Phillies hitters will need to be aggressive and selective all at the same time, as falling behind Johnson makes them very vulnerable to the strike out.

In the season finale, the Phillies will try to put an exclamation point on another successful season. Though the game has little consequence to the playoffs, it is important for them to have a good performance from the pitching staff, as they prepare for the NLDS. With many of the starters likely to rest, it will be interesting to see which reserves get to play. Likewise, with the bullpen, the Phillies may provide some insight into what their postseason roster will look like.

Phillies Recap: September 29, 2009

Philadelphia Phillies 7, Houston Astros 4

W - Happ (12-4), L - Lopez (0-1), S - Madson (10)

The Phillies had everyone at Citizens Bank Park holding their breath for most of the game. However, powered by the long ball, they jolted their way to their 91st victory of the season. It was a big win for the team, as they put together a solid start from Jay Happ and the offense got to Wilton Lopez. Pedro Feliz delivered the big hit with a grand slam in the fourth, leading the Phillies to a 7-4 victory.

Jay Happ pitched better than his numbers would indicate, and hung in for 5.2 innings. Despite having a very high pitch count early, Happ was getting the job done when he needed to, working out of several jams. Happ allowed three earned runs on nine hits and a walk. He struck out six and was lifted to his 12th victory by an uncharacteristically solid bullpen. One big concern was a groin strain that Jamie Moyer suffered on his final pitch in the seventh inning.

The Phillies offense looked like it was going to once again get shut down by a rookie. Wilton Lopez was strong out of the gate, but the Phillies rallied in the fourth. They loaded the bases with no one out and Pedro Feliz wasted no time depositing his second grand slam of the season deep into left field. The Phillies did well to tack on runs late, though they were not as patient as they could have been. Still, when the team scores seven runs, they should win the game.

With the win tonight, the Phillies have turned around their whole outlook on the home stretch of the season. Coupled with a Braves loss that came just a few minutes after the conclusion of the game, the Phillies' magic number is now down to one. That means the Phils will have five tries to seal the deal on their third straight NL East crown. The Phillies also surged a full game ahead of the Cardinals in the race for the best record in the National League; they still trail the Dodgers by two games entering play late tonight. More importantly, tonight gave everyone a boost of confidence in their offense and pitching.

Phillies Preview: September 29, 2009

Houston Astros (73-83) at Philadelphia Phillies (90-66)
7:05pm - Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA

Wilton Lopez, RHP (0-0, 8.44) v. J.A. Happ, LHP (11-4, 2.79)

The Phillies will call on Jay Happ for the second game of the series against Wilton Lopez of the Astros. Happ was strong in his last outing, and will look to gain some more momentum heading into the post season. Though his role for the Phillies will be uncertain, Happ and the Phillies will certainly be hoping for a solid start. The Astros will be sending Wilton Lopez, another youngster, to the hill to face off with Happ. Lopez has yet to record a decision this season, but has a very high ERA and has had little success thus far.

With a tough loss behind them, the Phillies need Jay Happ to step up and right their ship. He might be just the man to do it, as he has been one of their most consistent starters this year. Though his role for the Phillies in the playoffs is unclear at this point, he can make one more solid start before anything changes. Happ has never faced the Astros before and will need to command his fast ball, as usual to keep their solid lineup under control.

Happ will take on Wilton Lopez of the Astros. Lopez is another rookie pitcher with an inflated ERA. The Phillies will need to be more patient against Lopez and look for opportunities to tack on runs. The Phillies have never seen this right hander so it will be especially important for them to see a lot of pitches early on. With much of their lineup struggling, they need to start finding a rhythm soon, as the quality of opposing pitchers will start to improve drastically.

This game might be the critical one in the season for the Phillies. With a win, they will lower their magic number to two and turn themselves out of a 2-5 funk. A loss, however, will cause more concern and start to back the team into a corner. Clearly, the Phils will need a clutch start from Jay Happ and some offensive production early and often.

Phillies Preview: Astros Series 9/28 - 10/1

Houston Astros (72-83) at Philadelphia Phillies (90-65)

September 28 - October 1

The Philadelphia Phillies welcome the Houston Astros into town for a four-game series. This will begin the Phillies' final home stand, with seven games remaining in the season. Earlier this year, the down-and-out Astros swept the Phils in a four-game set in Houston. Now, the Phillies, on the verge of their third straight division crown, will look to return the favor. They can clinch as early as Tuesday and will send the heart of their rotation to the hill for one last turn before the post season. This series will be critical for the Phillies to get on track in all facets of their game.

September 28, 2009

7:05pm - Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA

Yorman Bazardo, RHP (0-2, 9.55) v. Cole Hamels, LHP (10-9, 4.11)

The first game of four will feature Cole Hamels, in what might be his final outing before the post season. By the time his next turn comes, the Phillies hope that the division is locked up, so that he may rest. This will be an important game for Hamels, as the Astros got to him a bit when they met earlier in Houston. Hamels will be opposed by Yorman Bazardo of the Astros. Bazardo is a young righty who has not yet won a game this season.

Pitching Primer: Yorman Bazardo

2009 Road Splits: (0-1) 4 G, 11.1 IP, 9.53 ERA, 5 K

Career at Citizens Bank Park: (0-0) 1 G, 1.0 IP, 9.00 ERA, 2 K

Career vs. Phillies Hitters: 4 PA, .500 BA, 0 HR, 1 K

Pitching Primer: Cole Hamels

2009 Home Splits: (7-3) 15 G, 95.2 IP, 3.29 ERA, 96 K

Career at Citizens Bank Park: (27-15) 54 G, 355.1 IP, 3.29 ERA, 331 K

Career vs. Astros Hitters: 90 PA, .296 BA, 1 HR, 13 K

September 29, 2009

7:05pm - Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA

Wilton Lopez, RHP (0-0, 8.44) v. J.A. Happ, LHP (11-4, 2.79)

The Phillies will call on Jay Happ for the second game of the series against Wilton Lopez of the Astros. Happ was strong in his last outing, and will look to gain some more momentum heading into the post season. Though his role for the Phillies will be uncertain, Happ and the Phillies will certainly be hoping for a solid start. The Astros will be sending Wilton Lopez, another youngster, to the hill to face off with Happ. Lopez has yet to record a decision this season, but has a very high ERA and has had little success thus far.

Pitching Primer: Wilton Lopez

2009 Road Splits: (0-0) 3 G, 5.2 IP, 14.29 ERA, 4 K

Career at Citizens Bank Park: n/a

Career vs. Phillies Hitters: n/a

Pitching Primer: J.A. Happ

2009 Home Splits: (4-2) 15 G, 63.1 IP, 3.98 ERA, 54 K

Career at Citizens Bank Park: (4-3) 22 G, 92.0 IP, 4.50 ERA, 81 K

Career vs. Astros Hitters: n/a

September 30, 2009

7:05pm - Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA

Brian Moehler, RHP (8-11, 5.21) v. Cliff Lee, LHP (14-12, 3.19)

Game three of this series will feature Cliff Lee of the Phillies and Brian Moehler of the Astros. Lee is coming off of another shaky start and is in the middle of a mediocre stretch with the Phillies. However, he can get back on track as he prepares for his first postseason appearance this year. This will likely be his last start of the regular season, as the Phillies will want Lee to get some rest before the playoffs. Brian Moehler will take the ball for the Astros, and despite his high ERA, still has the capability of shutting down a big league club.

Pitching Primer: Brian Moehler

2009 Road Splits: (5-4) 13 G, 73.1 IP, 3.93 ERA, 42 K

Career at Citizens Bank Park: (1-2) 5 G, 21.2 IP, 7.06 ERA, 13 K

Career vs. Phillies Hitters: 182 PA, .305 BA, 9 HR, 23 K

Pitching Primer: Cliff Lee

2009 Home Splits: (6-7) 15 G, 105.0 IP, 2.74 ERA, 90 K

Career at Citizens Bank Park: (3-1) 4 G, 30.0 IP, 2.10 ERA, 34 K

Career vs. Astros Hitters: 59 PA, .333 BA, 3 HR, 12 K

October 1, 2009

7:05pm - Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA

Felipe Paulino, RHP (2-11, 6.51) v. Pedro Martinez, RHP (5-1, 3.32)

The finale of the four-game series will feature Pedro Martinez and Felipe Paulino. Martinez has missed his last several starts with a stiff neck. The Phillies have been cautious with his health, as they prepare for the playoffs. This will certainly be Pedro's final test before the Phillies move into the post season. Martinez will be opposed by Felipe Paulino, who is in the midst of a terrible season. Paulino, the righty, has been getting more starts lately, without much success. But the Phillies will still need to treat this opponent seriously.

Pitching Primer: Felipe Paulino

2009 Road Splits: (1-6) 9 G, 33.1 IP, 8.37 ERA, 30 K

Career at Citizens Bank Park: n/a

Career vs. Phillies Hitters: n/a

Pitching Primer: Pedro Martinez

2009 Home Splits: (2-0) 4 G, 20.0 IP, 0.90 ERA, 20 K

Career at Citizens Bank Park: (3-1) 8 G, 38.1 IP, 4.23 ERA, 45 K

Career vs. Astros Hitters: 164 PA, .260 BA, 5 HR, 34 K

Phillies Recap: September 24, 2009

Philadelphia Phillies 9, Milwaukee Brewers 4

W - Happ (11-4), L - Suppan (7-11)

The Phillies scored early to provide Jay Happ a lead to pitch with. Then, later in the game, the exploded for a six-run fifth inning which knocked Jeff Suppan out of the game. Although they did allow a few late runs, the Phillies already had enough cushion for an easy win over the Brewers by a score of 9-4.

Jay Happ looked good and more importantly healthy for the Phillies. He didn't get as deep as the Phillies would have hoped, but he was the beneficiary of a lot of run support, which led to his 11th victory of the season. On the night, Happ went 5.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits and two walks. More encouraging were Happ's seven punch outs of Brewers' hitters. The Phillies bullpen came in and shut down the game, though it did allow two late runs to score.

The Phillies offense looked like it was ready to explode and it finally did tonight. With a tight game against Jeff Suppan, the Phils got to work in the fifth inning when they rallied for six runs. The inning was keynoted by Jimmy Rollins, who cranked a three-run homer, his 20th of the year. Suppan was lifted after 4.1 innings, allowing seven earned runs on 12 hits and a pair of walks. The Brewers' relievers did a good job keeping the Phillies from doing too much more damage after that, but it was all in vain.

This was exactly what this Phillies ball club needed. It was an easy win and one more step towards the post season. The performance by Happ was encouraging and the offense took care of business tonight. The Phillies won their 89th game of the season and drop their magic number down to an even four. A few more performances like this will get them to their third straight division title.

Phillies Preview: September 24, 2009

Philadephia Phillies (88-63) at Milwaukee Brewers (75-77)
8:05pm - Miller Park, Milwaukee, WI

J.A. Happ, LHP (10-4, 2.77) v. Jeff Suppan, RHP (7-10, 4.76)

The opener of the four game set will mark the second game back in the starting rotation for Jay Happ. Happ was lifted early from his last start as a precautionary measure, after he missed over two weeks with an oblique injury. Happ will look to continue his stellar rookie campaign against Jeff Suppan of the Brewers. Suppan has had a mediocre season, with rather average numbers to show for it. The Phillies will want to jump on him early and give Happ a cushion.

Jay Happ will get the starting nod for the Phillies, and will look to go deeper into the game. Coming off of a minor injury, the Phillies have been very careful with Happ, since he has been so critical to their success. Happ has limited action against the Brewers' lineup but has been solid on the road all season. He will need to keep his fast ball down and build off of it in order to have success.

The Phillies will be facing the veteran, Jeff Suppan, of the Brewers. Suppan was the losing pitcher in last season's clinching NLDS game for the Phillies. They will try to extend their success against a pitcher whom they have seen a lot of over the years. For his career, Suppan has not fared well against Phillies hitters, as they have a high batting average and have hit several homers off of him. The Phils will want to continue this trend tonight in support of Happ.

Coming off of back-to-back bad losses to the Marlins, the Phillies need to come out of the gate swinging tonight. They are so close to locking up the division with their magic number at five. A solid showing tonight moves them that much closer to another playoff appearance. They will need a good start from Happ and offensive production.

Phillies Preview: Brewers Series 9/24 - 9/27

Philadephia Phillies (88-63) at Milwaukee Brewers (75-77)
September 24 - September 27

The Philadelphia Phillies will conclude their long road trip with a four game series in Milwaukee against the Brewers. The Phillies will play their final regular season road games this weekend and look to move closer to clinching their third straight division title. Meanwhile, the Brewers are out of the playoff race and will try to play spoilers, a year after they reached the post season. It will be an interesting series, as the Phillies can technically clinch the NL East as early as Saturday.

September 24, 2009

8:05pm - Miller Park, Milwaukee, WI

J.A. Happ, LHP (10-4, 2.77) v. Jeff Suppan, RHP (7-10, 4.76)

The opener of the four game set will mark the second game back in the starting rotation for Jay Happ. Happ was lifted early from his last start as a precautionary measure, after he missed over two weeks with an oblique injury. Happ will look to continue his stellar rookie campaign against Jeff Suppan of the Brewers. Suppan has had a mediocre season, with rather average numbers to show for it. The Phillies will want to jump on him early and give Happ a cushion.

Pitching Primer: J.A. Happ - n/a

Pitching Primer: Jeff Suppan - n/a

September 25, 2009

8:05pm - Miller Park, Milwaukee, WI

Cliff Lee, LHP (7-2, 2.65) v. Manny Parra, RHP (10-10, 6.42)

The Phillies will send Cliff Lee to the mound against the Brewers' Manny Parra in the second game of the series. Lee is in the midst of an inconsistent stretch for the Phillies and will look to get back in his groove against Milwaukee. Parra will oppose Lee and is a solid pitcher in the middle of a terrible season. Despite racking up ten wins, Parra has a very high ERA and has struggled of late. However, he is still fully capable of dominating an opponent. The Phillies will need Cliff Lee to be strong in this game, and carry them to another victory.

Pitching Primer: Cliff Lee - n/a

Pitching Primer: Manny Parra - n/a

September 26, 2009

7:05pm - Miller Park, Milwaukee, WI

Kyle Kendrick, RHP (2-1, 2.70) v. Braden Looper, RHP (13-7, 5.12)

With the Phillies not wanting to risk Pedro Martinez's health at this point in the season, Kyle Kendrick will make another spot start. Thus far as a starter down the stretch, Kendrick has pitched extremely well, in clutch situations. The Phillies will look for another quality outing from the young right in Milwaukee. Braden Looper, the veteran righty will face off with the Phillies and Kendrick. Looper, the one-time reliever, is having an average season, despite a good record. He has the highest run support in the National League, and the Phillies will need to get to him early, before he can pitch with a lead.

Pitching Primer: Kyle Kendrick

2009 Road Splits: (1-0) 2 G, 6.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1 K

Career at Miller Park: (0-1) 1 G, 7.0 IP, 2.57 ERA, 2 K

Career vs. Brewers Hitters: 36 PA, .333 BA, 0 HR, 3 K

Pitching Primer: Braden Looper

2009 Home Splits: (4-4) 17 G, 100.1 IP, 5.02 ERA, 59 K

Career at Miller Park: (4-8) 29 G, 126.0 IP, 5.43 ERA, 69 K

Career vs. Phillies Hitters: 130 PA, .237 BA, 7 HR, 20 K

September 27, 2009

2:05pm - Miller Park, Milwaukee, WI

Joe Blanton, RHP (11-7, 3.82) v. Dave Bush, RHP (5-8, 6.22)

The finale of the four game set will feature Joe Blanton of the Phillies and Dave Bush of the Brewers. Blanton has been the Phillies most consistent starter and always gives them a chance to win. He has been especially good lately and if the Phillies can get him a lead, he should go deep into the game. Dave Bush, the struggling righty, will toe the rubber for the Brewers. Despite having a poor record and stats this season, Bush always seems to give the Phillies trouble. Earlier this season, Bush nearly no-hit the Phillies, so they cannot take this opponent lightly.

Pitching Primer: Joe Blanton

2009 Road Splits: (4-4) 18 G, 84.2 IP, 4.15 ERA, 72 K

Career at Miller Park: n/a

Career vs. Brewers Hitters: 80 PA, .333 BA, 3 HR, 10 K

Pitching Primer: Dave Bush

2009 Home Splits: (1-4) 10 G, 54.1 IP, 5.63 ERA, 46 K

Career at Miller Park: (24-18) 60 G, 373.1 IP, 4.03 ERA, 275 K

Career vs. Phillies Hitters: 165 PA, .243 BA, 9 HR, 27 K

Phillies Recap: September 18, 2009

Philadelphia Phillies 9, Atlanta Braves 4

W - Kendrick (2-1), L - Hudson (1-1)

The Phillies battled injuries and a tough Braves team to find a way to win their 86th game of the season. Jay Happ went three innings before being lifted as a precautionary measure. Kyle Kendrick came on in long relief and really helped the Phillies' bullpen. Carlos Ruiz also suffered a sprained wrist on a play at the plate. For the Braves, Tim Hudson was solid but was hurt by his nemesis, Ryan Howard's two homers. When all the scoring was done, the Phillies found themselves on the right side of a 9-4 decision.

Happ came back and showed signs of his mid-season form, but struggled with his command at times. In his three innings, he allowed just a solo homer and scattered five hits in all. The real story for the pitching, though, was Kyle Kendrick who came in for long relief and delivered four blank innings. It was another promising performance for the once-outed right-hander. The Phillies bullpen was mostly saved and finished off the game, once it was out of reach.

On offense, the story tonight was the long ball. Ryan Howard punished Tim Hudson once again with another pair of homers off the righty. Hudson went seven solid innings, though, allowing three earned runs on six hits and a walk. However, once the Phillies got into the Braves' pen, they unleashed their offense. Jimmy Rollins delivered the keynote with a three-run shot in the ninth that put the game out of reach for good. Ben Francisco put in a solid night's work with three hits including a homer of his own.

This was a bittersweet win for the Phillies. It was an important one in the standings, but costly for the roster. It is unclear the extent of the injuries to Happ and Ruiz, but both situations are certainly concerning. The catching depth on the Phillies' roster is minimal, so if Ruiz is out for an extended period of time, the Phils will be essentially crippled at that position. For now, the Phillies can take some pleasure in their win, as they move to 26 games over .500 and drop their magic number to eight.

Phillies Preview: September 18, 2009

Philadelphia Phillies (85-60) at Atlanta Braves (78-68)

7:30pm - Turner Field, Atlanta, GA

J.A. Happ, LHP (10-4, 2.77) v. Tim Hudson, RHP (1-0, 3.63)

In the opener of this three game series, the Phillies will send Jay Happ to the mound to face off against Tim Hudson. Happ is returning from an oblique injury which has caused him to miss his last several starts. He will look to continue his brilliant rookie season against a team that he has dominated in his career. For the Braves, Tim Hudson will get the start after missing most of this season recovering from Tommy John surgery. Hudson is a top-line pitcher and this game promises to be a real pitching-intensive match up.

Tonight will be the much-awaited return of Jay Happ. After injuring his oblique muscle in batting practice, Happ missed his last several starts. With great career numbers against the Braves and on the road, this game seems like the perfect time for him to return. Current Braves hitters are a combined .139 off of Happ in 94 career plate appearances. Happ will look to continue his dominance against Atlanta. He will need to keep his pitches down and only elevate with purpose.

The Braves will send their recovering ace to the mound in Tim Hudson. Coming off of a substantially bigger injury than Happ's, Hudson will make another start after returning from Tommy John surgery. The Phillies will look to greet him with some offense, as they are batting a combined .269 in 338 plate appearances for their careers. The Phils will try to exploit his pitch count and put together some scoring rallies in support of Happ.

A win in the game this evening can set the tone for the series for the Phillies. As they look to close out the NL East, they can put more distance between them and the now second-place Braves. With Happ returning to the hill, the Phillies will look to their offense to pick up the slack and keep the Braves from closing the gap in the division.

Phillies Preview: Braves Series 9/18 - 9/20

Philadelphia Phillies (85-60) at Atlanta Braves (78-68)

September 18 - September 20

The Philadelphia Phillies with travel to Atlanta to take on the division-rival Braves. The Phillies are coming off of a strong home stand, which they finished with a five-game flourish that put their magic number at 10. The Braves, meanwhile, have been fighting the weather for a chance to get back in the playoff hunt. Though the Braves are likely too far behind the Phillies at this point, this will be a huge series for both teams. The will undoubtedly be a playoff atmosphere at Turner Field and the Phillies can put a strangle-hold on the NL East with a good showing.

September 18, 2009

7:30pm - Turner Field, Atlanta, GA

J.A. Happ, LHP (10-4, 2.77) v. Tim Hudson, RHP (1-0, 3.63)

In the opener of this three game series, the Phillies will send Jay Happ to the mound to face off against Tim Hudson. Happ is returning from an oblique injury which has caused him to miss his last several starts. He will look to continue his brilliant rookie season against a team that he has dominated in his career. For the Braves, Tim Hudson will get the start after missing most of this season recovering from Tommy John surgery. Hudson is a top-line pitcher and this game promises to be a real pitching-intensive match up.

Pitching Primer: J.A. Happ

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

Career at Turner Field: (2-0) 3 G, 20.2 IP, 1.31 ERA, 10 K

Career vs. Braves Hitters: 94 PA, .139 BA, 2 HR, 12 K

Pitching Primer: Tim Hudson

2009 Home Splits: (0-0) 1 G, 7.0 IP, 1.29 ERA, 6 K

Career at Turner Field: (29-17) 61 G, 406.0 IP, 3.55 ERA, 259 K

Career vs. Phillies Hitters: 338 PA, .269 BA, 11 HR, 44 K

September 19, 2009

7:00pm - Turner Field, Atlanta, GA

Pedro Martinez, RHP (5-0, 2.87) v. Javier Vazquez, RHP (13-9, 3.01)

Pedro Martinez will make the start for the Phillies in the sandwich game against the Braves and Javier Vazquez. Martinez is coming off his most dazzling start of the season in which he went eight shut out innings. However, Pedro has been solid all year for the Phils, as they have won all seven of his starts thus far. Vazquez is also a quality pitcher who always tallies a high strikeout total. This will be yet another battle of the pitchers, as the Phillies and Braves toss quality starters against each other.

Pitching Primer: Pedro Martinez

2009 Road Splits: (3-0) 3 G, 17.2 IP, 5.09 ERA, 14 K

Career at Turner Field: (4-5) 9 G, 59.1 IP, 4.70 ERA, 51 K

Career vs. Braves Hitters: 206 PA, .193 BA, 5 HR, 52 K

Pitching Primer: Javier Vazquez

2009 Home Splits: (4-7) 14 G, 94.0 IP, 3.06 ERA, 107 K

Career at Turner Field: (9-11) 25 G, 164.1 IP, 3.23 ERA, 167 K

Career vs. Phillies Hitters: 283 PA, .218 BA, 12 HR, 71 K

September 20, 2009

1:30pm - Turner Field, Atlanta, GA

Cliff Lee, LHP (14-11, 3.00) v. Tommy Hanson, RHP (10-3, 2.65)

The final game of this divisional series will feature the Phillies' co-ace Cliff Lee against the rookie phenom, Tommy Hanson. Lee hit a rough patch with the Phils but has bounced back after several poor starts. He will have a chance to avenge one of those poor outings as he faces the Braves for the second time this season. Meanwhile, Tommy Hanson has put up very similar numbers to Jay Happ this season. However, he has a full arsenal of pitches that help make him a prolific strikeout pitcher. Needless to say, this lines up to be the third pitcher's duel of the series.

Pitching Primer: Cliff Lee

2009 Road Splits: (8-4) 16 G, 111.0 IP, 3.24 ERA, 77 K

Career at Turner Field: (1-0) 1 G, 7.0 IP, 2.57 ERA, 7 K

Career vs. Braves Hitters: 83 PA, .350 BA, 4 HR, 13 K

Pitching Primer: Tommy Hanson

2009 Home Splits: (7-1) 9 G, 57.0 IP, 3.00 ERA, 57 K

Career at Turner Field: (7-1) 9 G, 57.0 IP, 3.00 ERA, 57 K

Career vs. Phillies Hitters: 8 PA, .250 BA, 1 HR, 4 K

Phillies Preview: September 12, 2009

New York Mets (62-79) at Philadelphia Phillies (80-59)

4:05pm - Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA

Mike Pelfrey, RHP (10-10, 4.83) v. Jamie Moyer, LHP (12-9, 4.98)

The Phillies and Mets will meet again on national television on Saturday afternoon in the second game of the series. Mike Pelfrey, the Mets' righty will be opposed by Phillies veteran Jamie Moyer. Moyer had been supplanted in the rotation by Pedro Martinez, but now due to an injury, will return as a spot-starter. Moyer has looked very good since the move, though, and will look to assert himself against the Mets. This will be an interesting match up, as the Mets have hit Moyer in the past and Pelfrey has looked decent against the Phils' lineup.

Jamie Moyer will get his first true start in over a month, as he makes a spot-start in the series. He will face off against a Mets line up that he should know very well now, as he has faced them numerous times since coming over to the National League. Current Mets have hit very well against him, as they hold a .315 lifetime batting average in 288 plate appearances. Most notably, the Mets have hit 10 homers in that span, meaning that Moyer will need to keep the ball down and in against the heart of the Mets' order.

The Mets counter with Mike Pelfrey, who has been wildly inconsistent this season. Despite that being his track record over his major league career, Pelfrey has always handled the Phillies. The hard-throwing sinker-baller will look to induce a lot of ground outs against the powerful Phillies line up. Lifetime, current Phillies are hitting .242 in 167 plate appearances with five long balls. If Pelfrey can locate his pitches and keep them down, he should be successful. The Phillies will want to pick out some pitches up to drive hard against him.

This afternoon's game should prove to be the biggest challenge of the series for the Phillies, as they have a legitimate pitching opponent. The Phillies will need to get their offense going in support of Moyer, who will try to make a case to make the post season roster in this start. It is also still unclear how long Jay Happ will be out, so Moyer may be needed for another start soon. A second win against the Mets can propel the Phillies closer to clinching the division and mathematically eliminating the Mets.

Phillies Preview: Nationals Series 9/8 - 9/10

Philadelphia Phillies (77-58) at Washington Nationals (47-90)

The Phillies picked the wrong time of the season to start slumping. Nevertheless, they must get their act together with 27 games left in the season and their magic number hanging at 21. The rebound from a tough series against the Astros begins on Tuesday night, as they open a three game series against the Washington Nationals. Despite being the worst team in baseball, the Nationals still have the ability to defeat any team, so the Phils cannot take this series lightly.

September 8, 2009

7:05pm - Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.

Pedro Martinez, RHP (3-0, 3.52) v. John Lannan, LHP (8-10, 4.09)

Pedro Martinez will open the series for the Phillies against John Lannan of the Nationals. Martinez delivered the Phillies a brilliant performance his last time out, which was also the last time the Phillies won a ball game. He will look to duplicate that success against the Nats. Washington will counter with John Lannan, one of their best starters. He will look to keep the Phillies' offense reeling.

Pitching Primer: Pedro Martinez

2009 Road Splits: (2-0) 2 G, 11.0 IP, 5.73 ERA, 10 K

Career at Nationals Park: (0-1) 1 G, 6.0 IP, 6.00 ERA, 3 K

Career vs. Nationals Hitters: 92 PA, .226 BA, 1 HR, 30 K

Pitching Primer: John Lannan

2009 Home Splits: (5-1) 14 G, 92.2 IP, 2.62 ERA, 38 K

Career at Nationals Park: (9-10) 28 G, 170.1 IP, 3.65 ERA, 81 K

Career vs. Phillies Hitters: 156 PA, .316 BA, 7 HR, 27 K

September 9, 2009

7:05pm - Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.

Cliff Lee, LHP (12-11, 3.06) v. Garrett Mock, RHP (3-7, 5.63)

After two poor outings in a row, Cliff Lee will look to rebound against the Washington Nationals. He has been hit hard lately and will need to improve his command in order to succeed. He will face off with Garrett Mock, the young righty for the Nats. Mock has had a rough season this year, but is still a very capable pitcher. The Phillies will need a strong performance from Lee and a patient approach at the plate.

Pitching Primer: Cliff Lee

2009 Road Splits: (7-4) 15 G, 104.0 IP, 3.12 ERA, 73 K

Career at Nationals Park: n/a

Career vs. Nationals Hitters: 43 PA, .324 BA, 1 HR, 9 K

Pitching Primer: Garrett Mock

2009 Home Splits: (1-6) 12 G, 31.0 IP, 6.97 ERA, 28 K

Career at Nationals Park: (2-8) 26 G, 55.0 IP, 6.05 ERA, 54 K

Career vs. Phillies Hitters: 35 PA, .281 BA, 0 HR, 6 K

September 10, 2009

7:05pm - Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.

TBD v. Livan Hernandez, RHP (7-10, 5.44)

The Phillies have yet to name a starter for the finale of their three game set in Washington. However, it could be Joe Blanton or Jay Happ. Whoever gets the start will be opposed by the journeyman righty, Livan Hernandez. The crafty veteran was recently reacquired by the Nationals and has a great deal of experience against the Phillies. The Phils will look to finish the road trip strong with a good showing against Hernandez and the Nats in the Thursday night game.

Pitching Primer: Livan Hernandez

2009 Home Splits: (2-5) 10 G, 59.2 IP, 5.58 ERA, 36 K

Career at Nationals Park: (3-1) 4 G, 25.0 IP, 5.04 ERA, 15 K

Career vs. Phillies Hitters: 210 PA, .262 BA, 6 HR, 27 K

Phillies Recap: September 7, 2009

Houston Astros 4, Philadelphia Phillies 3

W - Wright (3-2), L - Park (3-3), S - Valverde (22)

Jamie Moyer got a spot-start for the Phillies, replacing the ailing Jay Happ. He pitched very well over six innings but the Phillies bullpen failed to hold a lead, the Phillies were swept by the Houston Astros. Behind a pair of solo homers, the Phillies took a lead against Brian Moehler and the Astros, but that was wiped away by the final score of 4-3.

Pitching on short notice, Jamie Moyer proved that he still has something to offer the team. He went out and tossed six solid innings in place of Jay Happ. Moyer surrendered two earned runs on three hits and a walk. He struck out four and allowed a home run. Unfortunately, Chan Ho Park came in and allowed the deciding runs on a pair of hits and three walks.

The Phillies offense was again stagnant. They did manage a pair of solo home runs from Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez, but got little else going against Brian Moehler. Moehler tossed 5.2 innings and allowed three earned runs but the Astros got him off the hook for the loss. He scattered five hits and walked three. However, once they had the lead, the Astros strung together five relievers to seal the victory.

In what was yet another frustrating loss, the Phillies dropped all four games of the series and got swept out of Houston. In a weekend highlighted by poor offense and not quite enough pitching, the Phillies fell to 77-58 on the season. Their magic number remains at 21 and their lead in the NL East is just six games. The team will look to regroup in Washington this week for a three game set.

Phillies Preview: September 7, 2009

Philadelphia Phillies (77-57) at Houston Astros (66-70)
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 Phillies will look to salvage the series in the finale, behind Happ.

With the strong start behind him, Happ is starting to get a track record around the league. He has reached the pivitol point in his development where he needs to adjust to what hitters are doing against him. He will have a chance for a fresh start against a team that features no career plate appearances against him. In order for Happ to be effective, especially against the righties of Houston, he needs to command his fastball and elevate it purposefully.

Brian Moehler, the journeyman right hander, will oppose the Phillies. Moehler is a typical inning-eating soft tosser that gets by with craftiness rather than power. Despite his high ERA this season, Moehler is capable of being highly effective. The Phillies have hit him pretty hard in his career, though, and will look for more of the same on Monday. In 153 plate appearances, current Phillies are batting .317 with seven homers.

After a terrible start to their road trip, the Phillies are looking for Happ to be their stopper once again. Meanwhile, Charlie Manuel will look for offensive answers, as their high-powered hitting has been uncharacteristically average lately. The Phils have 28 games left this season, and they need to turn it around now, to close out the season strong.

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

Phillies Recap: September 2, 2009

San Francisco Giants 4, Philadelphia Phillies 0

W - Penny (8-8), L - Happ (10-4)

To his credit, Jay Happ battled the Giants the whole game. He pitched behind all night and had a high pitch count, and yet, kept the team in it for a while. However, the Phillies offense was unable to get anything going against Brad Penny. The impatience of the Phils hitters enabled Penny to go eight strong and get the game to the Giants bullpen to seal the victory. The Phillies and Giants have traded shut outs now, with San Francisco taking this one by a score of 4-0.

The Phils' rookie J.A. Happ went six innings, allowing four earned runs and another two homers. Despite looking solid early on, Happ continued to work in jams and battled a high pitch count, which ultimately cost him as he surrendered homers to Juan Uribe and Aaron Rowand in the sixth inning. That would be his last, as he gave up eight hits and a walk. Happ did have seven strikeouts, but little else went well for the lefty.

In Brad Penny's debut for the Giants, he did not disappoint. Penny went eight shut out innings, while surrendering just five hits. The Phillies never really threatened, except in the fourth inning, when they got their first two men on, before stranding them. Penny worked the plate well and limited his pitch count which enabled him to go deep into the game. He walked one and struck out two.

As the Phillies offense goes, so go the Phillies. Despite the fact that their starters have been pitching exceptionally well lately, without run support, there can be no wins. For the last week, the Phillies hitters have done just enough at the plate to get by. This is not a good time to be slumping at the dish, as they finish off their series with one of the best pitching teams in the league. They will need a strong showing tomorrow night to avoid losing the series. On the season, the Phillies drop to 76-54.

Phillies Preview: September 2, 2009

San Francisco Giants (72-60) at Philadelphia Phillies (76-53)

7:05pm - Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA

J.A. Happ, LHP (10-3, 2.63) v. Brad Penny, RHP (7-8, 5.61)

The second game of the three game set will feature a candidate and a Rookie of the Year candidate and a crafty veteran. Newly acquired Brad Penny will take the ball for the Giants and oppose Happ. He is a solid righty, with good but not electric stuff. Jay Happ still has the tough task of facing him. However, Happ is putting together a very solid season of his own, but the Phillies will need to find a way to support him if they are to take the first two from the Giants.

Jay Happ has been everything the Phillies could have wanted and more, this season. He has been their stopper and one of the most consistent starters all season long. Tonight's game will arguably be his toughest match up to date, so he will need to have his A-game on. Happ has a good record but mediocre 3.77 ERA at the Bank, so it will be important for him to get ahead of the Giants hitters. He has never faced a batter on the Giants roster, so his deceptive fastball should be useful if he can command it.

For Brad Penny, this marks his return to the National League after a stint this season with the Boston Red Sox. Penny is a big right-hander who relies on command at this stage in his career. He has solid numbers against current Phillies, as he has held them to a .195 record over 186 career plate appearances. In the small ball park tonight, Penny will need to keep the ball down to the Phillies, especially their power lefties, if he wants a chance to win.

After playing a solid game and winning a tight game on Tuesday, the Phillies can make a real statement by defeating one of the best pitchers in the game tonight. The weather will be fair and Penny does not surrender many long balls, or much of anything to be honest. Thus, the Phillies will need their offense to wear out Penny and get some support for Happ as early and often as possible.