NLDS Preview: Phillies Offense

This is featured in part of Phillies Nation's NLDS Preview.

The Phillies have established themselves as an offensive ball club. The Phillies have become one of the league’s top powerhouses offensively. It might be surprising to hear that the Reds collected better offensive stats as a whole, however the Phillies were without several of their star players over the course of the year.

From the top of the order to the bottom, the offense is now completely healthy.The Phillies scored 772 runs this year, and batted .260 as a team. They only hit 166 home runs, which is 58 fewer than last year. The lack of home run production can be blamed on Ryan Howard, who hit an career-low 31 home runs this year. The power drop-off can also be a side effect of numerous injuries. Chase Utley hit half as many home runs as he averages, but he didn’t get near as many at-bats with his injury.

The Phillies have relied on small ball this year more than ever. Even without Jimmy Rollins, the Phillies still managed to have the best stolen base percentage in the majors (84%).

Johnny Cueto will start game three, and the Phillies have rocked him. Cueto has a 5.96 ERA in his career against the Phillies.

Ryan Howard has faired well in his career against the Reds. He has a 1.030 OPS against Cincy. Chase Utley has similar success. He has a 1.078 OPS in his career against the Reds. With the exceptions of Jayson Werth and Carlos Ruiz, none of the regulars had career years. Compared to their potential, most of them had down years. That says a lot, considering that the Phillies still managed to finish with one of the league’s top offenses.

Watch out for: Ryan Howard (.921 career postseason OPS), Carlos Ruiz (.400 OBP this year, .905 career postseason OPS).

Postseason Predictions:

Division Series

Phillies over Reds in 4
Giants over Braves in 5
Rangers over Rays in 4
Twins over Yankees in 5

Championship Series

Phillies over Giants in 6
Rangers over Twins in 7

World Series

Phillies over Rangers in 5

Year In Review: Howard's NLDS Sac Fly

Swing and a Long Drive will be looking at some of 2009's top moments. We had a similar "Year in Review" last year, but instead of month-by-month, we'll look at some of the top games. They are also a part of Phillies Nation's Top 25 Moments of 2009.

The third game of the National League Division Series was truly one for the ages. It had to wait an extra day due to snow, but for four hours and six minutes, the Phillies and the Rockies see-sawed in one of the most well played games of the postseason.

Chase Utley opened the scoring with a solo shot in the first inning. The Rockies answered back off J.A Happ, who couldn't seem to find a rhythm. It wasn't often Happ struggled, but the frigid temperatures got to Happ. He lasted only three innings, surrendering three runs.

The Phillies finally got to Jason Hammel in the fourth. Howard stroked a RBI single, Raul Ibanez drew a bases loaded walk, and Carlos Ruiz slapped a single to give the Phillies a 4-3 lead. After Carlos Gonzalez tied the game with a home run (he gave the Phillies plenty of trouble during the NLDS), Chooch delivered again to continue his unbelievable postseason hitting. But again, the Rockies tied it.

In the ninth inning, Chase Utley checked his swing, and the baseball bounced off his foot. However, the umpires missed the call (like they did so many times during the postseason), and a hustling Utley was ruled safe at first. Ryan Howard followed with a deep sacrifice fly that scored Jimmy Rollins from third. The Phillies took a 6-5 lead, and Brad Lidge completed the save despite allowing a couple base runners.

It is notable that Game 3 was the coldest game in playoff history, and it wasn't over until 2:14 AM Eastern time. The Phillies took a 2-1 series lead, and Philadelphia fans could finally get some sleep -- but it was worth the late night.

Other Top Moments: The Phillies had some exciting moments against the New York Mets. One includes Chase Utley's game winning home run into "Utley's Corner." Another is Raul Ibanez's tenth inning home run. Pelota, no regressa!

The Games That Got Us Here

As seen on Phillies Nation.

They’re back for seconds! The Philadelphia Phillies won the National League pennant, and are headed to the World Series for the second consecutive year. Their opponent will be the New York Yankees, the winningest team in sports history.

The Phillies finished their roller coaster season with 93 wins, but their never-say-die attitude in the playoffs has made for the most memorable postseason in franchise history.

The Phillies kicked off the postseason by beating the Colorado Rockies in four games during the National League Division Series. Cliff Lee’s nine superb innings set the tone for the playoffs. The Phillies took the first game, 5-1, but it was not the most exciting highlight of the series.

Colorado snow postponed the third game of the series, but at 2:14 a.m on a Monday morning, the Phillies took a 2-1 series lead in a game for the ages. Tied at five in the ninth inning, Ryan Howard hit a sacrifice fly to give the Phillies a 6-5 lead. It wasn’t Howard’s biggest moment of the series.

“Just get me to the plate, boys,” Howard said to his teammates, who were trailing 4-2 with two outs in the ninth. It appeared as if the Rockies tied the series, but two runners reached base to keep the Phillies’ hopes alive. Howard didn’t disappoint, smashing a game-tying double. Jayson Werth followed with a run batted in. Brad Lidge closed the doors to send the Phillies to the National League Championship Series.

The series against the Los Angeles Dodgers was filled with Carlos Ruiz clutch hits, Chase Utley throwing errors, another stellar performance from Lee, poor outings from Cole Hamels, and an 11-0 blowout. In addition, Howard tied Lou Gehrig’s eight game postseason RBI record. However, Howard, the NLCS MVP, didn’t get the biggest hit.

Once again, the Phillies were down to their last out, with a familiar nemesis on the mound: Jonathan Broxton. In game four of the 2008 NLCS, Matt Stairs famously hit a game-winning home run off Broxton. This time around, Broxton didn’t want any part of Stairs, and walked him. It proved to be costly for L.A, because Jimmy Rollins delivered with the biggest hit of his career. The Phillies stunned the Dodgers by winning, 5-4. Rollins’ game four walk-off made for one of the most unbelievable endings in postseason history.

A day later, the Phillies clinched the pennant. For the first time in franchise history, the Phillies won back-to-back National League championships. They can make more history by giving us another parade.

Phillies Stun Rockies, Clinch NLDS

Take a deep breath Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Phillies clinched the National League Division Series with their 5-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies. Just when all life was sucked out, the Phillies dramatically rallied in the ninth inning.

Cliff Lee was spectacular. In 7.1 innings, Lee allowed three runs (1 earned). He gave up five hits, walked three, and struck out five. However, his dominant performance diminished when Ryan Madson came into relieve in the eighth.

Shane Victorino statred the scoring with a solo shot in the first inning. Jayson Werth's home run in the sixth inning made it 2-0. Troy Tulowitzki cut the lead in half with a RBI double against Lee in the bottom half of the sixth.

Lee started the eighth inning, but was replaced by Ryan Madson after the circus came to town. Dexter Fowler reached with a walk. Todd Helton hit a soft grounder to Chase Utley. Utley reached out to tag Fowler, who went airborne, leaping over Utley. Utley flipped to Rollins at second, but he missed the catch. Everybody was safe, and Madson entered with one out as part of a key double switch. Ben Francisco entered the game for Raul Ibanez. Francisco made a terrific diving catch, robbing Tulowitzski.

With two outs, Madson could see his way out of the inning. How quickly a stellar performance from Lee and an amazing catch were erased. Jason Giambi's RBI single tied the game.

Yorvit Torrealba caused the Phillies a lot of trouble, homering off Cole Hamels earlier in the series. He struck again, ripping the hearts out of Philadelphia fans all across the country with a two-run, go-ahead double.

The game was over. Get ready for game five. The Phillies stranding the bases loaded twice proved to be costly. The offense didn't show up against Ubaldo Jiminez. Why didn't Charlie Manuel keep Lee in? Not so fast. The Phillies led the league in come from behind wins in 2009. Once again, they showed their resilience.

With two outs in the ninth inning, Utley drew a walk against closer Huston Street. Then, Ryan Howard clobbered Street's 2-1 offering over the head of Carlos Gonzalez. Victorino rounded third, but missed the bag. He went back to tag, with Utley on his heels. Victorino and Utley scored, tying the game at four. Werth followed with a RBI single, giving the Phillies a 5-4 lead.

It was not Brad Lidge who started the ninth, but Scott Eyre. Eyre rolled his ankle on Sunday night, but that did not stop him from getting two quick outs. He allowed two runners, and it was up to Lidge to seal the deal. He did. Tulowitzski chased a nasty slider to end the game.

This game, and this entire series, will go down in the books as one of the greatest in Phillies franchise history. The Rockies played the Phillies tough, but luckily the Phillies finished on top. Los Angeles Dodgers, we'll meet again on Thursday.

As seen on Phillies Nation.

NLDS Game 3 Preview

Visit Phillies Nation for full gameday.

Philadelphia Phillies (1-1) at Colorado Rockies (1-1)
J.A Happ, LHP (0-0) vs. Jason Hammel, RHP (0-0)

There has been much anticipation for the third game of the series, and the wait is finally over. Originally scheduled for Saturday night, snow postponed the National League Division Series. Play returns tonight with better weather conditions.

Cole Hamels' hanging curveball to Yorvit Torreabla is the main reason why this series is locked at one. The Phillies had an opportunity to take advantage of their home turf, but now they'll have to carry their road success into the postseason. The Phillies were a National League (tied with the Los Angeles Angels for MLB) best 48-33 away from The Bank this season.

Pedro Martinez was originally scheduled to pitch game three, but thanks to the postponement, J.A Happ will be handed the ball. Happ was struck in the knee during a relief appearance on Thursday, forcing him to exit the game. Happ suffered from a contusion, but insisted on being fine. The rookie, who won 12 games with a sub-3 ERA, will make his first postseason start. On August 5, Happ tossed a complete game shutout against the Rockies. In that outing, he struck out ten.

The Rockies opted to go with Jason Hammel, who came over from the Tampa Bay Rays at the very beginning of the season. Hammel went 10-8 with a 4.33 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP this season. He started the year in the bullpen, but spent the majority of the season as a starter. Hammel pitched 9.1 innings against the Phillies, including one start. He allowed five earned against the Phillies, whose collective lineup batted .359 against him. Jimmy Rollins and Raul Ibanez each homered off him.

Tonight's game is the most important one yet. A victory would give the Phillies some breathing room, but a loss will make their chances of repeating much more difficult.

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

Hamels Struggles; Rockies Even Series

As seen on Phillies Nation.

A perfect record at home last postseason was a key factor in last year’s World Championship. Today, the Phillies lost their first playoff game at home since 2007. The Rockies edged the Phillies, 5-4, evening the series at a game apiece.

Last October, Hamels stepped up as the big game pitcher. Today, he looked more like the pitcher that went 0-6 during day games than the one who earned the NLCS and World Series MVP.

Hamels cruised through the first three innings, allowing a run on a fielder’s choice. A curveball that hung over the plate to Yorvit Torrealba changed everything. Torrealba’s two-run home run gave the Rockies a 3-0 lead and silenced the crowd for most of the game.

Hamels was finished after five, and left the ballpark to be with his wife who went into labor. Hamels allowed four earned runs on seven hits and struck out five.

It took awhile for the offense to wake up. Ryan Howard’s RBI double and Raul Ibanez’s RBI single made it a one-run game. The rally was killed when Carlos Ruiz grounded into an inning-ending double play. The Phillies grounded into a total of three double plays in game two.

Charlie Manuel showed his lack of confidence in his bullpen by using starters Joe Blanton and J.A Happ. Happ entered the game after Blanton got into a jam, but exited after being struck by a line drive. He suffered a knee contusion and X-Rays were negative. Scott Eyre was able to escape the jam, only allowing a sacrifice fly. An inning later, Antonio Bastardo struck out Jason Giambi with the bases loaded and two outs to end the threat.

Dexter Fowler sacrifice flied twice to add onto the Rockies’ lead. Jayson Werth homered in the eighth inning, cutting the lead to one. The ninth inning became interesting when Matt Stairs walked and Jimmy Rollins singled, but the Phillies fell short against Huston Street.

The outcome is frustrating, but there are a few positives to take from today; Cole Hamels did not walk a batter and the Phillies went 3-for-6 with runners in scoring position. The series heads to Colorado on Saturday, where it is expected to snow. Using Blanton and Happ makes Pedro Martinez the favorite to start, but also questions Charlie Manuel’s managing style during Game 2.

Part III: NLDS Preview: Starting Rotation

This is Part III of the NLDS Preview. Read Part II here. The full preview is on Phillies Nation.

Like their offenses, the Phillies and Rockies pitching staffs match up fairly equally. Both teams are known for their offense, but it would not be surprising to see a low scoring game.

The Phillies pitching staff collectively has a 4.16 earned run average, sixth in the National Legaue. The Rockies pitching staff ranked eighth, posting a team ERA of 4.22. Their starting rotation posted a 4.10 ERA, beating the Phillies’ 4.29 ERA. Despite blowing the most saves in baseball, the Phillies bullpen collected a 3.91 ERA. On paper, the Rockies bullpen appears to be stronger, however their ‘pen posted a 4.53 ERA.

The Phillies hit a lot of home runs, but they also allow a lot. The Phillies gave up 189 home runs, second most in the National League. The Rockies kept the ball in the yard, surrendering 141. Both staffs allowed an opponents batting average of approximately .330.

The Phillies caught a break by not facing Jorge De La Rosa, the Rockies’ leader in wins. Cliff Lee and Ubaldo Jiminez were handed the ball in game one. Jiminez’s velocity was impressive, topping in the high 90’s. The 25-year old went 15-12 with a 3.47 ERA during the season. Lee was a perfect 5-0 with a 0.68 ERA when he first came over from the Cleveland Indians. Then, Lee went on a cold spell, but he returned to form yesterday. Unlike Jiminez, Lee previously did not have any postseason experience. In addition, he threw a career high in innings pitched, but that did not prevent him from throwing a complete game. Jiminez has made it a habit of struggling against the Phillies. In the regular season, he allowed nine runs and fourteen hits in ten innings. Lee allowed one run in seven innings against the Rockies in August, and one run again on Wednesday.

Aaron Cook and Cole Hamels will pitch in game two. Cook was bothered by a sore shoulder throughout the season, but is still an effective ground ball pitcher. At Citizens Bank Park, Cook is 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA. Cole Hamels, last year’s NLCS and World Series MVP, hopes for another postseason run. Hamels’ roller coaster season ended with a 4.32 ERA and 1.28 walks and hits per innings pitched.

Joe Blanton and J.A Happ will start the postseason in the bullpen, but will likely start in games three and four respectively. Happ is a top candidate for the Rookie of the Year Award. He recorded the most wins of any Phillies rookie since the 1980’s. Blanton has been an inning eater, and rebounded from his 0-2, 8.41 ERA start.

The Rockies rotation also includes Jason Marquis, who quietly had a solid season. He went 15-13 with a 4.04 ERA. Marquis allows a lot of hits; 218 in 216 innings. However, the Phillies lineup batted .208 against him this season. The Rockies final starter will be either Jose Contreras or Jason Hammel. Since coming over from the Chicago White Sox, Contreras is 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA in seven games. As a starter, Hammel is 10-8 with a 4.45 ERA.

Part II: NLDS Preview: Offensive Player Breakdown

This is Part II of a NLDS preview for the offense. For Part I, click here. Or, view the full version on Phillies Nation.

The Phillies and Rockies have very similar offenses. The lineups are almost identical to the ones that were seen two years ago, with the biggest difference being in left field. Matt Holliday is now with the St. Louis Cardinals and Pat Burrell has moved on to the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Phillies star-studded offense leads off with Jimmy Rollins. Rollins has come a long way since being benched in late June because of a career worst 0-for-28 slump. During the second half of the season, the former MVP batted .272 with 14 home runs. Rollins’ shadow, Shane Victorino, was the team’s leading hitter. Nobody can forget Victorino’s heroics in last year’s NLDS when he homered against C.C Sabathia.

The meat of the order is capable of doing a lot of damage. Chase Utley is currently in a 0-for-15 slump and batted .204 in September, but he is always a major offensive threat. Ryan Howard was tied with Milwaukee’s Prince Fielder for the most runs batted in the major leagues with 141. Jayson Werth finished a RBI short of reaching 100 for the season. He had a career high .879 on-base plus slugging percentage. Raul Ibanez had a monster first half, but struggled when he returned from a groin injury.

Pedro Feliz and Carlos Ruiz sit at the bottom of the order, but they are each capable of starting rallies and coming up clutch. Feliz has been arguably the team’s most clutch hitter, leading the team with a .325 average with runners on base.

The bench has been one of the Phillies Achilles’ heels. Matt Stairs’ home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2008 National League Championship will never be forgotten, but the big hacker is hitting .194. Like the NLCS blast, Stairs’ home run against the Rockies this season will always be remembered. The game-winning shot was Harry Kalas’ last home run call before tragically passing away in April.

An average under the Mendoza line isn’t strange for a Phillies bench player. Eric Bruntlett, a career .231 hitter, was left of the roster after Miguel Cairo made a strong push during the final weeks of the season. Ben Francisco, who was acquired with Cliff Lee, has been a reliable bat off the bench. Greg Dobbs set a Phillies record last season for the most pinch hits, but he has been plagued with injuries this season. Paul Bako has done a fine job as the backup catcher after Chris Coste was let go.

The Rockies will have to look out for the Phillies on the basepaths. They’ve had a healthy mix of speed and power throughout the season. They are second in the National League with 119 steals.

The Rockies lineup doesn’t feature as many big names, but they still have a potent offense. The Rockies start at the top with speed. Dexter Fowler and Carlos Gonzalez have spent time leading off for the Rockies. Fowler stole 27 bases this season, and Gonzalez batted .284 in 89 games. The outfield also includes Seth Smith. Smith batted .293 with 15 home runs and a .889 OPS.

The middle of the lineup features a possible future Hall of Famer, Todd Helton. Helton hit .325 this year, very close to his career average of .328. The 36-year old doesn’t hit the long ball like he used to. In 2001, he hit a career high 49. This year, he hit 15 home runs, ten below his career average. The Rockies lineup also includes Troy Tulowitzski. Tulo may be known for his defense and strong arm, but he can also rake. Tulo started the year slowly, batting .200 in April. Like Rollins, the shortstop turned his season around. He finished the season with a .297 average, 32 home runs and a .930 OPS. Following Tulo is one of the game’s most underrated hitters, Brad Hawpe. Hawpe batted .285 with a .519 slugging percentage. Hawpe finished the season with ten runs batted in during his final ten games.

Second baseman Clint Barmes slugged 23 home runs this season. Ian Stewart and Garrett Atkins have been sharing time at third base. Atkins, Chase Utley’s UCLA teammate, disappointed many with a .226 average and nine home runs this season. Ian Stewart’s average is not much better sitting at .228, however he smacked 28 home runs. Backstop Chris Iannetta has the same average, but he is still a dangerous hitter. It’s notable that he has a .804 OPS.

The platoons in the outfield and at third base make their bench deeper. The bench includes Ryan Spilborghs, who the Phillies almost acquired at the trade deadline. Yorvit Torreabla is the backup catcher, and the Rockies added Jason Giambi from the Oakland A’s. Giambi provides a left handed bat off the bench, much like Stairs for the Phillies.

The Phillies batted .302 with nine home runs in six games against the Rockies this season. Four of those home runs came at Coors Field. The Rockies cumulative lineup batted .251 with six homers against the Phillies this season.

The first game of the series will open in Philadelphia, and head to Colorado for game three. The Phillies seek redemption after the Rockies swept them in 2007. When these two teams meet, slugfests are anticipated. It wouldn’t be a shock to see a couple of them in this best of five series.

Part I: NLDS Preview: Head to Head

This is Part I of a NLDS preview for the offense. The full article can be viewed on Phillies Nation.

October baseball has arrived! The Philadelphia Phillies and the Colorado Rockies square off in the National League Division Series on Wednesday. With the 2007 NLDS fresh in mind, the Phillies hope for a better outcome this time around.

The last time the Rockies entered the postseason, they were the hottest team in baseball, winning 21 out of their last 22 games. This year, they closed the season 18-9 in September. They haven’t been as impressive as they were in their pennant year, although they had an impressive turnaround. The Rockies opened April with a record of 8-12 before firing manager Clint Hurdle. Jim Tracy took over as skipper, leading the Rockies to a Wild Card berth.

Charlie Manuel’s crew will try to defend their 2008 World Championship. The Phillies finished the year with a record of 93-69, one more win than the Rockies. The Phillies won the season series, 4-2, and outscored the Rockies, 31-28.

This Division Series may be loaded with offense. Both Citizens Bank Park and Coors Field are extremely hitter friendly. In addition, these two teams are power houses that rank first and second atop many offensive categories. The Phillies 820 runs scored rank first in the National League. The Rockies are right behind with 804 runs. The Phillies led the National League with 224 home runs and a .447 slugging percentage. The Rockies finished second with 190 home runs and a .441 slugging percentage. The Rockies have a .343 on-base percentage, which is higher than the Phillies’.

The Phillies struggled with runners in scoring position, batting .255 in that situation. The Rockies were slightly better, hitting .259, just below the league’s average.

Year In Review: NLDS

The Philadelphia Phillies had unfinished business to finish. They'd start out by taking on the Milwaukee Brewers, who made the playoffs for the first time since 1982, in round one of the playoffs, the National League Division Series.

Since the Phillies clinched the NL East a day prior to the end of the season, the Phillies had a chance to rest their ace, Cole Hamels. Hamels would be opposed by the young Yovani Gallardo, who missed almost the entire season due to injury.

A double off the bat of Chase Utley, and over the glove of center fielder Mike Cameron would be all Cole Hamels needed, shutting the Brewers out over 8 innings.

In game 2, the Phillies faced the hottest pitcher in all of baseball, CC Sabathia... that was until Brett Myers stepped up to the plate.

Myers escaped a 1-0 jam, exiting the first inning. A self proclaimed "terrible hitter," Myers fouled pitch after pitch off Sabathia, eventually drawing a walk in the second inning. The crowd roared after each foul ball, but erupted when Myers reached first. It got louder. Much louder. Shane Victorino hit a grand slam homerun off Sabathia. The Phillies won the game 5-2.

After Jamie Moyer was roughed up in game 3, the Phillies came out quickly in game 4. Jimmy Rollins led off the game with a solo homerun.

Pat Burrell chipped in with 2 homeruns of his own. Jason Kendall grounded out to Rollins as Brad Lidge nailed down the save.

The Phillies were headed to the National League Championship Series for the first time since 1993. The Phillies would face an old NLCS nemesis, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

NLCS Bound

The Philadelphia Phillies are headed to just their 7th all time National League Championship Series, with their 6-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. The last time the Phillies were in the NLCS was back in 1993, when the underdogs beat the Atlanta Braves to move onto the World Series.

The Brewers prevented a sweep on Saturday, but the Phillies came right out of the shoot today.

Jimmy Rollins led off the game with a solo homerun. All year, the Phillies go as JRoll goes, and that was the case again today.

Prior to the game, Burrell teased Rollins to get things started, and he would follow. It turned out to be no joke.

In the 3rd inning, Jeff Suppan intentionally walked Ryan Howard to get to Pat Burrell. Burrell had been 0-8 in the series. However, in his career, Burrell was a .450 hitter against Suppan.

Burrell increased those numbers. He hit a 3 run homerun to give the Phillies a 4-1 lead. Following Burrell, Jayson Werth his a solo homerun that gave the Phillies a 5-1 lead. Burrell later hit another homerun.

That was it for Suppan, the 2006 NLCS MVP with the Cardinals, as he lasted just 3 innings. That was all Joe Blanton would need as the Phillies never looked back.

Blanton pitched 6+ innings allowing just 1 run on 5 hits. He did not walk a batter, and struck out 7. The lone run came on a Prince Fielder homerun, his first hit of the series.

Madson pitched 2 innings in relief to help "build the bridge to Brad Lidge." Lidge finished off the game, and was hugged by his teammates after the final out to Jimmy Rollins.

Champagne corks pop, beer was poured over heads once again, but the Phillies still know they are still 8 wins away.

Photo Courtesy of Phillies.com

Game 3: Preview

The Phillies are 2-0 in the postseason this year. The last time the Phillies were 2-0 in the postseason was in the 1980 World Series, when they won it all. Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Shane Victorino, as well as others, put the Phillies in the situation they're in now. Tomorrow they'll give the ball to Jamie Moyer for his turn.

Moyer finds himself in a familiar place, a chance for the Phillies clinch. This time, its not for the division, its for the division series, and to the National League Championship Series.

The Brewers' lineup is the type of lineup Moyer usually has success against: young hitters, who he'll get to swing out in front. Moyer has faced the Brewers twice this year.

Line against Brew Crew in April:
6 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO

Line against Brew Crew in September:
5.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 5 SO

J.J Hardy and Prince Fielder each hit a homerun off him.

If Moyer can do something similar to these two starts, and keep the Phillies in the game like he has all year, the Phillies should be fine.

Moyer's opponent will be Dave Bush. Bush grew up watching the Phillies, so he's gonna want to give the Phillies the same pain they brought him.

Line vs Phils in April:
6 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO

Utley, Dobbs, Burrell each hit a homerun off him.

Line vs. Phils in September:
6 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO

Howard hit a homerun off him.

The Phillies haven't done too much off him, but have did a little damage. They need to get some more hits with runners on base, and they should be good to go.

Photo Courtesy Phillies.com