Los Angeles Dodgers (59-55) at Philadelphia Phillies (63-50)
Clayton Kerhsaw (10-7, 3.19 ERA) vs. Joe Blanton (4-6, 5.65 ERA)
Clayton Kershaw and Joe Blanton meet in the rubber-match. The Dodgers were all over the Phillies in the first game of the series, but they did not save any runs for the second game. The only question for tonight is whether or not the game will be played with pending storms in the forecast.
Looking at the starting matchup, the edge appears to go to the Dodgers. Kershaw has a respectable 3.19 ERA, while Blanton has an extremely high 5.65 ERA. However, Kershaw is facing a team that he has struggled against, and Blanton is facing a team that he has had success against. Kershaw is 0-3 with a 6.64 ERA against the Phillies; Blanton is 1-0 with a 2.88 ERA against the Dodgers. In addition, Blanton has been much improved during the second half of the season.
Shane Victorino will return off the disabled list, but Ben Francisco will play because Charlie Manuel promised that he'd start today. Antonio Bastardo was sent to Triple-A. Ryan Howard and Chase Utley both took batting practice today, but the Phillies are still without them. Even with missing studs in the lineup, the Phillies have still managed to go 15-4 in their last 19 games.
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