Phillies Recap: NLCS Game Four

National League Championship Series - Game Four
Philadelphia Phillies 5, Los Angeles Dodgers 4
W - Brad Lidge (1-0, 0.00), L - Jonathan Broxton (0-1, 6.00)

Game four of the National League Championship series was an exciting and close affair all night long. Joe Blanton started off very strong and then got shaky, while Randy Wolf did the opposite in his start. The Philadelphia Phillies took an early lead, but the Los Angeles Dodgers battled back and carried a late lead into the ninth inning. However, late inning heroics from Jimmy Rollins helped the Phillies defeat Jonathan Broxton and the Dodgers by a final of 5-4. The walk-off win has already become the Phillies' signature win this postseason. With the win, the Phillies take a commanding 3-1 series lead and are one game from reaching their second consecutive World Series.

Game Summary: Los Angeles Dodgers

Randy Wolf got off to a slow start as he allowed two hits and a pair of runs on a Ryan Howard home run in the first inning. However, after the Phillies took the early lead, Wolf was brilliant, shutting down their offense for almost five innings. In the sixth inning, working with a lead, Wolf allowed one more run, but departed the game after 5.1 innings with a lead in tact. The Dodgers' bullpen was sharp in relief of Wolf, keeping the Phillies hitless and preserving Wolf's lead. That was, all until the ninth inning. Jonathan Broxton, on for a four-out save, allowed a walk, hit batter, and game-winning double in the ninth inning to blow the save and take the loss.

The Dodger offense was sluggish out of the gate against Blanton, as he retired the first 10 batters in a row. However, they came alive, putting up a pair of runs to tie the game in the fourth inning, then scored in the next two innings to take a 4-2 lead. However, as the game wound down, they squandered several key scoring opportunities which could have iced the game away. James Loney had a pair of hits and an RBI, while Matt Kemp homered and scored a pair of runs.

Game Summary: Philadelphia Phillies

Joe Blanton had a great start to his night, as he was very efficient and retired the Dodgers in order for the first three innings. However, trouble came quickly in the fourth inning, as the Dodgers strung some hits together off of Blanton to tie the game. Blanton seemed to lose his command after that point, allowing a run to score in the next two innings. Blanton finished his night tossing six innings, while allowing three earned runs and four overall. The Phillies' bullpen came in and tossed three masterful innings of shut out ball, highlighted by Brad Lidge's pair of strike outs in the ninth which earned him the win.

The Phillies offense was once again all about Ryan Howard. Howard homered in the first inning for an early lead, which also set a new major league record for most consecutive postseason games with an RBI (in one season) at eight. However, after the homer, the Phillies' offense fell asleep and barely stirred over the next seven innings. They did tack on an important run in the sixth inning. But the real story came in the ninth inning, when they found themselves down to their last out with a pair of runners on. Jimmy Rollins lined a ball deep into the right field gap to plate a pair and win the ball game in dramatic fashion.

Phillies NLCS Previews
Overview, Rotations, Bullpens, Hitters

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

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

Phillies Preview: NLCS Game Four

National League Championship Series - Game Four

Los Angeles Dodgers (1-2) v. Philadelphia Phillies (2-1)

Monday October 19, 2009 - 8:07pm ET

Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA

48° F - Clear

Randy Wolf, LHP (0-0, 0.00) v. Joe Blanton, RHP (0-0, 0.00)

After a blow out in game three, the Philadelphia Phillies can put a strangle hold on the National League Championship Series on Monday night with a win in game four over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers will need to win to even the series and guarantee a trip back to Los Angeles later in the NLCS. In the important game four, former Phillie Randy Wolf will face off with righty Joe Blanton. It will be considerably warmer than last night, picture perfect October baseball weather.

Starting Pitcher: Randy Wolf, Dodgers

Randy Wolf, the former Phillies pitcher earlier this decade, will make the start for the Dodgers in the crucial fourth game. Wolf will be pitching in familiar territory, but with an unfriendly crowd. The crafty lefty veteran mixes a low 90s fastball with breaking pitches and a changeup. He will need to locate the fastball to build his arsenal of "junkballs" to be effective. The 32-year old had a very effective season with that methodology, winning 11 games and posting a very impressive 3.23 ERA. Wolf was especially good on the road this season and though he pitches to contact, he posted solid strikeout rates.

Against the Phillies, Wolf was not great. He split two decisions with his former team, posting a very high 5.11 ERA. In his career against Phillies hitters, Wolf has allowed a .243 batting average against in 119 plate appearances. The newer Phillies have the most appearances against Wolf and have also posted the best numbers against him. Pedro Feliz has a .294 batting average with three home runs off of him. Meanwhile, Raul Ibanez (.273 BA) and Carlos Ruiz (.667 BA) also have solid numbers against Wolf. Clearly, tonight's matchup will hinge on how Wolf fares with the big lefties in the Phillies order.

Starting Pitcher: Joe Blanton, Phillies

Joe Blanton will be making the first start of this postseason tonight. Though he did appear in several games earlier in the playoffs, the big righty will make a very important start against the Dodgers. This season, Blanton was one of the Phillies' most consistent starters, winning 12 games and posting a respectable ERA. Blanton works with a low 90s fastball and a couple of breaking pitches and must have pinpoint location to be effective. Blanton typically gets about one strikeout per inning, but he is at his best when he pitches to contact and keeps the ball down in the zone.

This season against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Blanton took a no decision after tossing six solid innings of one-run ball against them. Lifetime against their hitters, Blanton has weaker numbers, allowing a .295 batting average against in 154 plate appearances. Especially dangerous to Blanton are the hitters in the heart of the lineup. Manny Ramirez (.560 BA, 1 HR) and Andre Ethier (.455 BA, 2 HR) have especially good numbers against him. The 28-year old will need to mix speeds and hit the lower corners against a free-swining Dodgers team.

Starting Lineup: Los Angeles Dodgers

Statistics versus Joe Blanton

1. Rafael Furcal, SS (0/4, 0 HR, 1 K)

2. Matt Kemp, CF (2/11, 0 HR, 3 K)

3. Andre Ethier, RF (5/11, 2 HR, 4 K)
4. Manny Ramirez, LF (14/25, 1 HR, 4 K)
5. James Loney, 1B (5/8, 0 HR, 0 K)

6. Ronnie Belliard, 2B (3/8, 0 HR, 0 K)

7. Russell Martin, C (2/7, 0 HR, 2 K)

8. Casey Blake, 3B (1/21, 0 HR, 7 K)

Starting Lineup: Philadelphia Phillies

Statistics versus Randy Wolf

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS (3/6, 1 HR, 0 K)
2. Shane Victorino, CF (3/9, 1 HR, 1 K)
3. Chase Utley, 2B (1/8, 0 HR, 4 K)
4. Ryan Howard, 1B (1/9, 0 HR, 4 K)
5. Jayson Werth, RF (1/9, 1 HR, 3 K)
6. Raul Ibanez, LF (3/11, 0 HR, 3 K)
7. Pedro Feliz, 3B (5/17, 3 HR, 4 K)
8. Carlos Ruiz, C (4/6, 1 HR, 0 K)

Phillies NLCS Previews

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

Phillies Recap: October 2, 2009

Florida Marlins 7, Philadelphia Phillies 2

W - VandenHurk (3-2), L - Blanton (12-8)

The Phillies were once again flat as Joe Blanton was jumped on by the aggressive Marlins lineup. Kirk VandenHurk was strong for the Marlins, keeping the Phillies shut down and the Marlins tacked on runs late to put the game away. Despite playing with a partial team, the Phillies lost a tough game tonight, as they pursue the best record in the National League. By the end of the night, the Phillies had been dealt a 7-2 loss.

Joe Blanton had his second straight rough start, allowing a lot of early runs on the night. Once the Phillies fell behind in the second inning, they would never be back in the game. For the game, Blanton allowed five earned runs on nine hits and a pair of walks. He pitched into the seventh inning, but lasted on six official innings, and struck out only three. The Phillies bullpen allowed a few late runs that finished them off.

The Phillies offense was again stagnant against the Marlins, this time facing Kirk VandenHurk. Ryan Howard crushed his 44th homer of the season but the Phillies offense did almost nothing else. VandenHurk went six solid innings, allowing just two earned runs on five hits and a walk. The Marlins bullpen was impressive, though, as they came in for three shut out innings.

Once again, the Phillies failed to make up ground in the hunt for the best record in the National League. With two games left, the Phillies are 92-68 and can still improve on last season's record. It will be interesting to see what they do with their lineup the last two games of the season and how the rotation sets up. It is still much too early to tell who and where the Phillies will play in the first round of the playoffs.

Phillies Preview: October 2, 2009

Florida Marlins (85-74) at Philadelphia Phillies (92-67)

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

Rick VandenHurk, RHP (2-2, 4.44) v. Joe Blanton, RHP (12-7, 3.95)

Joe Blanton will take the hill in game one, in what will be his final tune up for the postseason. Coming off a tough start, Blanton will look to straighten himself out and prepare for whatever role the Phillies want him in. Most likely, Blanton will be the Phillies' third or fourth starter, so he may not pitch again for over a week. He will be opposed by the youngster, Rick VandenHurk. The Phillies faced VandenHurk the last time these teams met and got to him for some early runs.

The Phillies will want to see Joe Blanton toss a strong game in preparation for the playoffs. Blanton, who looks to be a starter in the post season, will get his final warm up against a Marlins team he knows quite well. Blanton had a strong start against the Fish the last time they met and has held their hitters to a .227 batting average in 147 career plate appearances. Look for Blanton to try to be aggressive tonight and take care of business.

Rick VandenHurk will take the ball for the Marlins and face the Phillies for the second time this month. VandenHurk, the big righty, will look to improve against the Phillies, after allowing a handful of runs his last time out. Current Phillies are hitting .265 in 56 career plate appearances against VandenHurk. The last time out, the Phillies were good at pushing across runs on VandenHurk and will need to support Joe Blanton.

After a hangover loss last night, the Phillies will again field a partial starting team. However, they will try to get back on track behind Blanton and pick up their 93rd win of the season tonight. With the playoffs looming, tonight's game will play large in who the Phillies play and where they will be playing this Wednesday.

Phillies Preview: Marlins Series 10/2 - 10/4

Florida Marlins (85-74) at Philadelphia Phillies (92-67)

October 2 - October 4

With the season wrapping up, the Philadelphia Phillies will host the Florida Marlins for a three game series. With the Phillies having already clinched the NL East, they are now playing for the best record in the National League. However, expect to see a lot of subs as the Phillies get some rest for their regulars. The Marlins are playing for pride at this point, but would love to put a smudge on the Phillies' divisional crown heading into the playoffs. It should be an exciting series, regardless, with all three games being sold out.

October 2, 2009

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

Rick VandenHurk, RHP (2-2, 4.44) v. Joe Blanton, RHP (12-7, 3.95)

Joe Blanton will take the hill in game one, in what will be his final tune up for the postseason. Coming off a tough start, Blanton will look to straighten himself out and prepare for whatever role the Phillies want him in. Most likely, Blanton will be the Phillies' third or fourth starter, so he may not pitch again for over a week. He will be opposed by the youngster, Rick VandenHurk. The Phillies faced VandenHurk the last time these teams met and got to him for some early runs.

Pitching Primer: Rick VandenHurk

2009 Road Splits: (1-1) 5 G, 25.0 IP, 3.60 ERA, 17 K

Career at Citizens Bank Park: (0-2) 2 G, 6.1 IP, 12.79 ERA, 5 K

Career vs. Phillies Hitters: 56 PA, .265 BA, 2 HR, 11 K

Pitching Primer: Joe Blanton

2009 Home Splits: (7-3) 15 G, 99.0 IP, 3.55 ERA, 84 K

Career at Citizens Bank Park: (9-3) 22 G, 137.0 IP, 3.55 ERA, 106 K

Career vs. Marlins Hitters: 147 PA, .227 BA, 3 HR, 37 K

October 3, 2009

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

Anibal Sanchez, RHP (3-8, 4.10) v. Cole Hamels, LHP (10-10, 4.25)

The Phillies have tentatively penciled in Cole Hamels for Saturday's start against the Marlins. They may replace him if they expect him to pitch on Wednesday's playoff opener. However, he could potentially still pitch Thursday on normal rest. He will be opposed by Anibal Sanchez of the Marlins. Sanchez struggled his last time out but shut down the Phillies offense the last time they squared off. If Hamels does get the nod, this will be an exciting, pitcher's duel on National TV.

Pitching Primer: Anibal Sanchez

2009 Road Splits: (2-5) 8 G, 45.0 IP, 4.80 ERA, 40 K

Career at Citizens Bank Park: (0-3) 4 G, 16.0 IP, 10.69 ERA, 10 K

Career vs. Phillies Hitters: 105 PA, .256 BA, 2 HR, 21 K

Pitching Primer: Cole Hamels
2009 Home Splits: (7-4) 16 G, 102.1 IP, 3.61 ERA, 101 K

Career at Citizens Bank Park: (27-16) 55 G, 362.0 IP, 3.38 ERA, 336 K

Career vs. Marlins Hitters: 234 PA, .238 BA, 11 HR, 56 K

October 4, 2009

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

Josh Johnson, RHP (15-5, 3.08) v. TBD

The Phillies have yet to announce a starter for Sunday's regular season finale against the Marlins. Whoever gets the start 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 nearly-full team.

Pitching Primer: Josh Johnson

2009 Road Splits: (8-2) 16 G, 100.0 IP, 3.51 ERA, 78 K

Career at Citizens Bank Park: (3-0) 4 G, 21.0 IP, 0.86 ERA, 18 K

Career vs. Phillies Hitters: 168 PA, .258 BA, 3 HR, 36 K

Phillies Recap: September 27, 2009

Philadelphia Phillies 6, Milwaukee Brewers 5

W - Blanton (12-7), L - Bush (5-9), S - Madson (9)

The Phillies came out of the gate early and scored runs for Joe Blanton. However, Blanton was not very sharp and kept the Brewers in the ballgame. Though he pitched with a lead all day, the game never felt under control. Dave Bush was hit hard by the Phillies but they left 14 runners on base in the game, leading to a close conclusion. However, they hung on to win the game 6-5.

Joe Blanton did not have electric stuff. His pitch count escalated quickly and though he pitched from ahead, he was shaky. In the sixth inning, Blanton finally gave up the big hit as the Brewers put together a four-run inning on him. On the afternoon, Blanton went 5.2 innings, allowing five earned runs on seven hits and four walks. The bullpen kept the Phillies ahead with the slimest of margins, and Ryan Madson came in to record a four-out save.

For the Brewers, the damage could have been a lot worse. Dave Bush was very erratic and had trouble locating his breaking pitches. However, the Phillies were not very patient with him and he did settle down, after allowing four early runs. Bush went 4.1 innings, allowing five earned runs on nine hits and a walk. Once again, the Brewer bullpen held the Phillies offense in check and kept them off the score board for the final four frames. Jimmy Rollins got the scoring started for the Phillies with a lead off homer.

This was an important win for the Phillies. They finish the Brewers series and road trip at an even .500 and lower their magic number to three. More importantly, it builds some confidence in their much-maligned bullpen. The save for Madson is especially important, if he is to continue in that role into the playoffs. The win marks the Phillies' 90th of the season and 48th of the season on the road.

Phillies Preview: September 27, 2009

Philadephia Phillies (89-65) at Milwaukee Brewers (77-78)

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.

After dropping the last two games to the Brewers, the Phillies will look to Joe Blanton to be their stopper this afternoon. The Phillies are in the midst of a 1-4 stretch, but won the last start by Joe Blanton in convincing fashion. Blanton will look to duplicate that success against a Brewers team that he has not been great against. In 80 career plate appearances, current Brewers are hitting .333 against Blanton. Blanton will need to command all of his pitches and keep the Brewers' offense off balance.

Dave Bush gets the nod this afternoon against the Phillies. After starting the season strong, Bush spent time on the disabled list. Since returning, he has not been the same. However, the soft-tossing righty still has some decent stuff and has given the Phillies' offense fits. In his career, Bush has held current Phillies to a .243 average in 165 plate appearances. The Phillies will want to be patient against him, as he likes to nibble around the strike zone and use his breaking pitches to get hitters chasing.

With this being the last road game of the regular season, the Phillies will want to finish it strong. Their magic number remains at four and they can be ready to clinch early this week. With the rough patch they have hit recently, the Phillies will really need to buckle down to earn a split in the series against the Brewers and go .500 on their current road trip.

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 22, 2009 - Game One

Philadelphia Phillies 9, Florida Marlins 3

W - Blanton (11-7), L - Johnson (15-5)

The Phillies came out to play this afternoon and put together a lead on one of the league's best pitchers. After scoring four runs off of the Marlins' Josh Johnson, they had knocked him out of the game. Joe Blanton pitched a masterpiece for the Phillies, who added to their lead in support of Blanton, and took game one of the double header by a score of 9-3.

Joe Blanton turned in the performance that the Phillies were looking for, as he shut down the Marlin offense. Blanton went seven strong innings on the afternoon, allowing just two hits and two walks, while striking out nine. Blanton did not allow any runs. He was in complete control the entire game and the Marlins rarely threatened him. After exiting the game, the Phillies' bullpen decided to make the game a little more interesting, allowing a late rally, but they held on to close out the game.

For the Marlins, this was not what they hoped for from Josh Johnson. Despite being a strike out machine once again, he gave up a number of hits in big situations that led to his demise. The Phillies also worked his pitch count well. On the day, Johnson only lasted five innings, giving up four earned runs while striking out ten. The Phillies real damage came in the top of the eighth inning when they put a five-spot on the board, accented by Raul Ibanez's 32nd homer of the year. Ryan Howard added three RBI on the day, which puts him at 126 for the season.

This was what Phillies fans wanted to see. With a couple of starters getting the afternoon off, the Phillies took care of business against the ace, Johnson. Their offense seemed to be firing on all cylinders and they put up a high run total without relying on the long ball. Their base running was impeccable and they got the win to lower their magic number to 5. They will look to carry the momentum into game two tonight and sweep their second double header of the month.

Phillies Preview: September 22, 2009 - Game One

Philadelphia Phillies (87-61) at Florida Marlins (80-70)
4:10pm - Land Shark Stadium, Miami, FL

Joe Blanton, RHP (10-7, 3.97) v. Josh Johnson, RHP (15-4, 3.01)

In the first game of a back-to-back double header, the Phillies will send steady Joe Blanton to the mound to take on Josh Johnson of the Marlins. Blanton has been consistent this season, and will need another strong performance against the Fish. They will counter with their ace, Johnson, who was been dominant all season, including against the Phillies. This will be a tough test, right off the bat for the Phillies, as the two teams play on the field less than 24 hours after the Monday Night Football game.

The Phillies will need Blanton to go deep into this afternoon's game. He has been steady and will try to get the Phils off to a strong start in Miami. Blanton does have decent numbers against the Marlins in his career, holding them to a .257 batting average against in 121 plate appearances. The key for Blanton will be to get off to a strong start and keep the Phillies close as they battle a tough starter. If Blanton can keep his pitches down and rely on his defense, he should have success.

Blanton will be opposed by Marlins' ace Josh Johnson. Johnson, the righty, has been dominant this year, especially against the Phillies, who have struggled to figure him out. He is a strike out pitcher with a live arm, which is all set up by his fast ball. For their collective careers, current Phillies are batting just .248 in 144 plate appearances. The Phillies will want to be patient and not get themselves out against Johnson. However, they must be ready to attack as the hittable pitches will be few and far between.

Facing their division-rival's ace in the opener of a pivotal series with major playoff implications is a tough task for the Phillies and Joe Blanton. However, if they aim to prove that they belong, they will need to make a statement against the Marlins. A win can propel them through the series against the Fish, taking pressure off the team, while inching them even closer to their third consecutive NL East title.

Phillies Preview: Marlins Series 9/22 - 9/23

Philadelphia Phillies (87-61) at Florida Marlins (80-70)

September 22 - September 23

As the end of the season approaches, every game matters. Division games are magnified in importance, which will make the Philadelphia Phillies' series in Florida this week a huge one. The Phillies ride into town riding high, winners of eight of their last 10 games. They have their magic number down to six and will look to put the dagger through the Florida Marlins' hearts for 2009. However, nothing is ever easy, as the Marlins will toss some strong pitching against the Phils and try to stave off elimination for at least another week. A good showing by the Phillies, though, will place them at the doorstep of their third consecutive NL East crown.

September 22, 2009 - Game One

4:10pm - Land Shark Stadium, Miami, FL

Joe Blanton, RHP (10-7, 3.97) v. Josh Johnson, RHP (15-4, 3.01)

In the first game of a back-to-back double header, the Phillies will send steady Joe Blanton to the mound to take on Josh Johnson of the Marlins. Blanton has been consistent this season, and will need another strong performance against the Fish. They will counter with their ace, Johnson, who was been dominant all season, including against the Phillies. This will be a tough test, right off the bat for the Phillies, as the two teams play on the field less than 24 hours after the Monday Night Football game.

Pitching Primer: Joe Blanton

2009 Road Splits: (3-4) 13 G, 77.2 IP, 4.52 ERA, 63 K

Career at Land Shark Stadium: (1-0) 1 G, 5.0 IP, 3.60 ERA, 9 K

Career vs. Marlins Hitters: 121 PA, .257 BA, 3 HR, 28 K

Pitching Primer: Josh Johnson

2009 Home Splits: (7-2) 15 G, 99.1 IP, 2.45 ERA, 98 K

Career at Land Shark Stadium: (16-8) 43 G, 239.2 ERA, 3.45 ERA, 227 K

Career vs. Phillies Hitters: 144 PA, .248 BA, 3 HR, 26 K

September 22, 2009 - Game Two

TBD - Land Shark Stadium, Miami FL

Jamie Moyer, LHP (12-9, 5.05) v. Anibal Sanchez, RHP (2-7, 4.50)

The second game of this double-header will take place immediately following the first. Both teams will need to keep their bullpens in tact, with the starting pitching situation much less certain for this game. The Phillies will put Jamie Moyer on the hill to make another spot start. In his recent action, Moyer has been much more effective lately. He will take on the wild and inconsistent Anibal Sanchez. Sanchez is the owner of a career no-hitter, but has struggled to find a groove in the big leagues since then. The Phillies will need to bring a lot of energy to the back-end of this twin billing.

Pitching Primer: Jamie Moyer

2009 Road Splits: (6-2) 12 G, 67.0 IP, 3.76 ERA, 43 K

Career at Land Shark Stadium: (8-0) 8 G, 52.2 IP, 1.37 ERA, 30 K

Career vs. Marlins Hitters: 294 PA, .249 BA, 8 HR, 48 K

Pitching Primer: Anibal Sanchez

2009 Home Splits: (0-3) 6 G, 26.0 IP, 4.15 ERA, 21 K

Career at Land Shark Stadium: (10-6) 23 G, 129.0 IP, 3.49 ERA, 106 K

Career vs. Phillies Hitters: 77 PA, .328 BA, 2 HR, 14 K

September 23, 2009

7:10pm - Land Shark Stadium, Miami, FL

Cole Hamels, LHP (10-9, 4.07) v. Rick VandenHurk, RHP (2-2, 4.24)

Cole Hamels gets the start for the Phillies in the finale of the three game set with the Marlins. He will be opposed by the Marlins' Rick VandenHurk, the righty. Hamels has started to really turn it on of late, and will try to continue his success as the Phillies move closer to the post season. VandenHurk is a young righty who's been mediocre thus far, but will try to give the Marlins a chance against the Phils. This game will be on national television on ESPN and represents the earliest mathematical date that the Phillies can clinch the division. However, a lot has to happen before they can celebrate a division title.

Pitching Primer: Cole Hamels

2009 Road Splits: (3-6) 14 G, 81.1 IP, 4.98 ERA, 61 K

Career at Land Shark Stadium: (0-2) 5 G, 31.0 IP, 3.48 ERA, 36 K

Career vs. Marlins Hitters: 204 PA, .231 BA, 9 HR, 52 K

Pitching Primer: Rick VandenHurk

2009 Home Splits: (1-1) 4 G, 21.2 IP, 4.98 ERA, 25 K

Career at Land Shark Stadium: (3-5) 16 G, 72.2 IP, 5.94 ERA, 85 K

Career vs. Phillies Hitters: 28 PA, .250 BA, 1 HR, 6 K

Phillies Recap: September 16, 2009

Philadelphia Phillies 6, Washington Nationals 1

W - Blanton (10-7), L - Hernandez (8-11)

The Phillies were again stifled on offense early, but were saved by a solid pitching effort. Joe Blanton pitched his way through six innings of trouble without allowing a run. And the Phils scratched out a couple of runs against Livan Hernandez, one on a steal of home by Chase Utley. Finally in the seventh, they broke through as Jayson Werth crushed a grand slam. The Phillies kept the Nationals off the board until the ninth and nearly tossed up their third consecutive shut out in a 6-1 decision.

Joe Blanton clearly did not have his best stuff all night. He struggled with command and walked four batters. However, he made the pitches he needed to every inning to get out of jams and was aided by some poor base running by Washington. This led to a high pitch count and a relatively short outing for Blanton, who only went six innings. On the night, he also allowed five hits and struck out seven. The bullpen was strong but was dealt a serious blow as Chan Ho Park went down with an apparent leg injury.

The Phillies again could not do much against Livan Hernandez. After allowing a quick run in the first, Hernandez settled in and kept the Phils from adding on to their lead. He went six innings, allowing two earned on seven hits and two walks. Hernandez also struck out four Phillies on the evening. The Nationals' bullpen came on and allowed the grand slam to Werth, his second of the year. From there, the game was busted wide open and gave the Phillies a comfortable cushion.

The Phillies nearly shut out their opponent for the third straight game and did not allowed a run for 26 consecutive innings. In the process, they lowered their magic number to 11. With the win, the Phils are now 24 games over .500 at 84-60 and have overtaken the Cardinals for the second-best record in the National League, and are 4.5 games behind the Dodgers for the best mark. Currently, they are in line to face the winner of the NL wild card in the first round of the playoffs.

Phillies Preview: September 16, 2009

Washington Nationals (50-94) at Philadelphia Phillies (83-60)
7:05pm - Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA

Livan Hernandez, RHP (8-10, 5.30) v. Joe Blanton, RHP (9-7, 4.11)

Two solid righties will face off in game two of the series as Livan Hernandez looks to continue his success against the Phillies and Joe Blanton. Hernandez defeated the Phillies last week and kept their high-powered offense shaking their heads. The Phillies will look to get their offense firing on all cylinders against him this time, behind Joe Blanton. Blanton was lit up in his last appearance against the Nationals, last week. He gave up a season high eight earned runs and turned in one of his worst starts of the season. However, Blanton has been steady this season and will try to regroup in this start against the Nats.

Joe Blanton had a rough start against the Nationals in his last outing. He will look to regroup from that as they face off again. However, it will not be easy as the Nats hitters will look to avenge their shut out last night. For his career, Blanton has allowed a .282 batting average by current Nationals in 125 plate appearances, including seven homers. He will need to keep the ball in the park tonight against the Nats' big hitters and work off of his fastball. Hopefully the Phillies' offense can also give him a lead to work with early on.

For the Nationals, Livan Hernandez has returned and delivered a solid start against the Phillies last week. The Phillies will need to have much more patience against the veteran frisbee-thrower, in order to build up his pitch count and do some damage. Lifetime, Phillies hitters are batting just .255 against Hernandez in 242 plate appearances. It will be interesting to see if they can improve upon those numbers tonight against a mediocre-at-best pitcher.

With the Marlins already winning today, the Phillies will try to maintain their lead in the NL East with their fourth consecutive win on this home stand. They can also make some progress on lowering their magic number and improving their standing among all National League teams. With a strong showing from the righty Blanton and some timely hitting, the Phillies can capture another series win tonight.

Phillies Preview: Nationals Series 9/15 - 9/17

Washington Nationals (50-93) at Philadelphia Phillies (82-60)

September 15 - September 17

The division-leading Philadelphia Phillies will play host to the league-worst Washington Nationals for a three game series this week. The Phillies are rolling high after a big series win against the New York Mets. They will look to continue their dominance over the Nationals, as they have gone 12-3 in their meetings thus far. This will be the teams' final series of the season and one that is critical for the Phils. It might be easy to overlook the last-place Nats, but with Washington throwing three righties and the heart of the Phillies' rotation lined up, this is as close to a must-sweep series as they will have.

September 15, 2009

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

Garrett Mock, RHP (3-7, 5.75) v. Cliff Lee, LHP (13-11, 3.13)

Cliff Lee will make the start for the Phillies in the opener against the Nationals. In his last outing, against the Nationals no less, Lee was roughed up late but still earned the win. He has not been nearly as sharp in his last several starts and against a mediocre line up, he will try to get back on track. Lee will be opposed by Garrett Mock, whom the Phillies faced last week as well. The Phillies got to Mock early and over his last few starts, he has also been ineffective. Look for both pitchers to bounce back and keep this game a low scoring one.

Pitching Primer: Garrett Mock

2009 Road Splits: (2-1) 11 G, 31.1 IP, 4.31 ERA, 26 K

Career at Citizens Bank Park: (0-0) 4 G, 3.2 IP, 9.82 ERA, 4 K

Career vs. Phillies Hitters: 59 PA, .283 BA, 0 HR, 10 K

Pitching Primer: Cliff Lee

2009 Home Splits: (5-7) 14 G, 96.0 IP, 3.00 ERA, 81 K

Career at Citizens Bank Park: (2-1) 3 G, 21.0 IP, 3.00 ERA, 25 K

Career vs. Nationals Hitters: 75 PA, .324 BA, 1 HR, 13 K

September 16, 2009

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

Livan Hernandez, RHP (8-10, 5.30) v. Joe Blanton, RHP (9-7, 4.11)

Two solid righties will face off in game two of the series as Livan Hernandez looks to continue his success against the Phillies and Joe Blanton. Hernandez defeated the Phillies last week and kept their high-powered offense shaking their heads. The Phillies will look to get their offense firing on all cylinders against him this time, behind Joe Blanton. Blanton was lit up in his last appearance against the Nationals, last week. He gave up a season high eight earned runs and turned in one of his worst starts of the season. However, Blanton has been steady this season and will try to regroup in this start against the Nats.

Pitching Primer: Livan Hernandez

2009 Road Splits: (5-5) 16 G, 94.1 IP, 5.34 ERA, 56 K

Career at Citizens Bank Park: (2-3) 6 G, 36.0 IP, 6.75 ERA, 22 K

Career vs. Phillies Hitters: 242 PA, .255 BA, 6 HR, 32 K

Pitching Primer: Joe Blanton

2009 Home Splits: (6-3) 14 G, 93.0 IP, 3.77 ERA, 77 K

Career at Citizens Bank Park: (8-3) 21 G, 131.0 IP, 3.71 ERA, 99 K

Career vs. Nationals Hitters: 125 PA, .282 BA, 7 HR, 22 K

September 17, 2009

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

J.D. Martin, RHP (4-4, 4.29) v. Cole Hamels, LHP (9-9, 4.21)

The Phillies will close out their series and home stand against the Nationals behind their ace, Cole Hamels. In what has been a well-documented inconsistent season, Hamels had a solid start his last time out. With the playoffs around the corner, the Phillies hope that Hamels picks up some confidence in his last few starts. He will be opposed by the Nationals' J.D. Martin, who has begun to pitch very well. The Phillies will want to be patient with the youngster and end that trend with a good showing in the finale of the series.

Pitching Primer: J.D. Martin

2009 Road Splits: (3-2) 5 G, 28.0 IP, 3.86 ERA, 16 K

Career at Citizens Bank Park: n/a

Career vs. Phillies Hitters: n/a

Pitching Primer: Cole Hamels

2009 Home Splits: (6-3) 14 G, 87.2 IP, 3.49 ERA, 86 K

Career at Citizens Bank Park: (26-15) 53 G, 347.1 IP, 3.34 ERA, 321 K

Career vs. Natinals Hitters: 139 PA, .233 BA, 3 HR, 46 K

Phillies Recap: September 10, 2009

Washington Nationals 8, Philadelphia Phillies 7

W - Hernandez (8-10), L - Blanton (9-7), S - Villone (1)

In what was a very peculiar game, the Phillies showed a great deal of heart. However, Joe Blanton was hit very hard by the Nationals early on and the Phillies' offense could not dig all the way out of the hole they had. Livan Hernandez did a very serviceable job for the Nats and they prevailed to avoid a sweep by a final score of 8-7.

Joe Blanton actually looked very sharp early on. He had a few pitches working and managed to retire the Nationals quickly in the first few innings. However, trouble found Blanton in the third, fourth, and fifth innings. The finishing blow was dealt by rookie Ian Desmond, who hit his first major league home run, a three-run shot. Blanton went 4.1 innings, allowing eight earned runs on seven hits and four walks. The Phillies bullpen came in and did a good job keep the Nationals off the board after that point, but by then, the game was too far gone.

The Nationals got the start they wanted from Livan Hernandez. Hernandez pitched into the eighth inning, and despite allowing an early pair of runs, settled down to pick up a win for the Nats. On the night, Hernandez went 7.1 innings, giving up just two earned runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out two. The Phillies offense came alive in the ninth inning, rallying for five runs, behind Matt Stairs' first hit in 31 at-bats, with a grand slam. However, they came up just short, as the lead was just out of reach.

This loss was a difficult one, though the Phillies did finally show some signs of life. Losing to the Nationals is not how the Phillies wanted to end a road trip in which they went 2-5. They also lost a game in the standings to the Marlins and their lead now stands at five games. The Phillies' magic number remains at 19. The good that can be taken out of this game is the offensive resurgence. Granted most of it came on the Stairs slam, the Phillies showed some of their trademark heart that has seemed to be missing for several months. They will now return home to take on the Mets and look to turn things around.

Phillies Preview: September 10, 2009

Philadelphia Phillies (79-58) at Washington Nationals (47-92)
7:05pm - Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.

Joe Blanton, RHP (9-6, 3.80) v. Livan Hernandez, RHP (7-10, 5.44)

Joe Blanton will get the start tonight and 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. They have a chance to sweep the Nationals and win their 80th game of the season before returning home.

With the Phillies' rotation a bit out of sync, Joe Blanton will take the ball tonight. He has pitched very well all season long and been the steady arm in the rotation every time out. Blanton will look to maintain his consistency with a strong start against the Nationals. He has decent numbers against their lineup, holding them to a .264 batting average in 100 career plate appearances. As usual with Blanton, he will need to keep his fastball down to keep from being hit hard.

The veteran Livan Hernandez will take the bump for the Nats to face off with a Phillies team he is quite familiar with. He has done well against them, though, with a .262 batting average against in 210 plate appearances. Hernandez has also allowed six long balls to them, which is relatively low considering the amount of at bats they have had. However, even in the cavernous Nationals Park, the Phillies have proven that they can hit the ball out, with seven homers in the last two games. The Phils will need to be very patient with Livan, who is a soft-tosser these days, and take advantage of the inevitable mistakes he will make.

Tonight is a good chance for the Phillies to finish off the road trip with a flourish. After dropping the first four games, a three game sweep in Washington can help to negate their recent struggles. After this game, the Phillies only have one more 10-game road trip for the season. While they will have plenty of home games coming up, they have been the league's best team on the road. With their magic number down to 19, a win tonight could bring them within striking distance of clinching the division in two weeks' time.

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 5, 2009

Houston Astros 5, Philadelphia Phillies 4
W - Valverde (3-2), L - Lidge (0-7)

For most of the night, Roy Oswalt shut the Phillies down. However, he left in the seventh inning due to a stiff back and Joe Blanton kept the Phils close. A couple of two-run innings late propelled the Phillies to a brief lead, but Brad Lidge blew yet another save. The Astros defeated the Phillies by a final score of 5-4.

Joe Blanton got off to a rough start as Hunter Pence drilled another two-run homer and later added an RBI-single. However, as always, Blanton battled tough and kept the Phillies and their struggling offense close. On the night, Blanton went six innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out five. Brett Myers came back from his hip injury and pitched a scoreless frame before Brad Lidge blew his tenth save of the season.

For the Astros, Roy Oswalt was dominant for them. He racked up strike outs early and rarely allowed base runners. After going 6.1 scoreless innings, he exited the game with a sore back. The Phillies would go on to add two earn runs off of him, while striking out eight times. The Astros bullpen yielded two more runs in the eighth, keynoted by Ryan Howard's RBI-triple. But yet again, the Phillies failed to score tack-on runs, leaving the bases loaded in the eighth inning. It would eventually cost them the ball game.

This was a devastating loss for the Phillies, who have now dropped back-to-back games against the Astros. Another weak offensive performance was almost enough, before Brad Lidge surrendered the game winning runs. It has to be very concerning for the Phillies that their offense and their closer have struggled so much down the stretch. Fortunately, they have a large enough lead in the East to regroup before things get too tight.

Phillies Preview: September 5, 2009

Philadelphia Phillies (77-55) at Houston Astros (64-70)
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.

The Phillies will look to Joe Blanton to continue his success this season and become their second 10-game winner. Blanton has pitched well of late, but has average numbers against current Astros hitters. Those hitters have a .328 batting average in 66 lifetime plate appearances, including two homers. Blanton will need to be aggressive on the right-handed heavy lineup and pitch to both sides of the plate. There will be base runners, but Blanton is capable of pitching through trouble.

Roy Oswalt, the Astros' ace will take the ball against the Phillies tonight. He is not the ideal candidate to help the Phillies break out of their offensive troubles. But they will need to have a solid approach to the veteran righty. That means working the count and getting the top of the order on base against Oswalt. For their careers, current Phillies have a .328 average in 210 plate appearances against Oswalt with six long balls.

Tonight will be interesting to see how the Phillies respond. The bullpen is a little bit over-worked lately, with last night's short outing from Cliff Lee. But the real point of emphasis will be to see how the offense can pick it up in a big way, and provide some much needed run support to the starters. If they can score early and often, the Phillies will make it a lot easier on Joe Blanton.

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