Manuel Has Meeting as Phils Try to Rebound

Visit Phillies Nation for full gameday.

Houston Astros (73-83) at Philadelphia Phillies (90-66)
Wilton Lopez, RHP (0-0, 8.44 ERA) vs. J.A Happ, LHP (11-4, 2.79 ERA)

The Houston Astros always seem to torture the Phillies in September, but don't jump off the bandwagon yet! The beauty of baseball is that there is always a tomorrow. After a painful loss on Monday, the Phillies will try to rebound.

Last night, the Phillies struggled against Yorman Bazardo. Once again, they'll be seeing a new face. Wilton Lopez is making his first major league start. In 10.2 innings in relief, the rookie has struggled mightily. He has allowed 20 hits and his ERA is over eight. Over the course of the year, the Phillies' bats have been silent against young pitchers that they've never faced before, even if they own high ERA's.

J.A Happ will try to help his case for the 2009 Rookie of the Year Award. The left-hander is seeking his twelfth win of the year. Opponents have batted .236 against him this season. Happ has been the stopper. He is a perfect 7-0 after Phillies losses.

Charlie Manuel did most of the talking during a closed-door meeting this afternoon. Hopefully that will pump up the team and get them back on the right track. Manuel later said to the media: "Ever since I’ve been in baseball, I’ve been a fighter and I’ve come to whip your [butt] every day.” So let's whip some Astro-butt tonight.

Tonight's lineup: Rollins (SS), Victorino (CF), Utley (2B), Howard (1B), Ibanez (LF), Werth (RF), Feliz (3B), Bako (C) and Happ (P).