Baseball Comes Second Today

Philadelphia Phillies (82-60) at New York Mets (69-72)

Kyle Kendrick (9-8, 4.86 ERA) vs. Mike Pelfrey (13-9, 3.96 ERA)

"From the cradle of liberty, Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Do we have closure? No. No, the heinous acts of terrorism last Tuesday will be with us for as long as we all shall live." -- Harry Kalas, 2001.

The Phillies are in the midst of a pennant race, but let's put baseball aside for a minute and remember those who lost their lives nine years ago. The tragedy on September 11, 2001 put America's pastimes on hold, but baseball eventually started the healing process.

The Phillies were one of the first teams to resume play, beating the Atlanta Braves 5-2. However, the most memorable moment from that game was a fan who carried an American Flag throughout Veterans Stadium. When the Mets returned to Shea Stadium, Mike Piazza's go-ahead home run gave everybody an unforgettable chill.

Here we are today: nine years later. The two teams meeting both helped the healing process in the United States. Today might not be about the matchups; it's about patriotism and pride for our country. We will never forget what happened on that horrible day, and we will never forget those who lost their lives.

Wolf To Face Former Club

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Milwaukee Brewers (62-73) at Philadelphia Phillies (78-58)

Randy Wolf (10-10, 4.76) vs. Kyle Kendrick (9-7, 4.72)

In Saturday's 5-4 victory, Roy Halladay surrendered four homers, but the Phillies offense rallied, en route to their fifth straight win. The Phillies become a scary team in September, and they're just a game back in the National League East.

Former Phillie Randy Wolf will take the mound for the Brew Crew, but don't expect a Wolf Pack reunion. This is Wolf's second appearance at Citizens Bank Park in an away jersey. Phillies fans know what Wolf brings to the table. Sometimes he can be on his "A" game; other times he can get rocked. That sounds very familiar to Wolf's counterpart, Kyle Kendrick.

The offense is starting to pick it up, especially Chase Utley, Jayson Werth and Ryan Howard. Howard is always a scary hitter late in the season, thus taking the name Mr. September. Howard does not have good career numbers against Wolf, but the Phillies need Howard to continue to have his September push.

Phillies Seek to Sweep Friars

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Philadelphia Phillies (72-57) at San Diego Padres (76-52)
Cole Hamels (7-10, 3.47 ERA) vs. Clayton Richard (12-5, 3.55 ERA)

The Phillies have rebounded quickly after being swept by the lowly Houston Astros. Now, the Phillies are on the verge of sweeping the first place San Diego Padres. This series has been about pitching, as both teams haven't gathered too many runs. That's usually how PETCO plays out anyway.

Cole Hamels, a San Diego native, always has success when facing the Friars. Hamels has a 3.18 ERA against the Padres in his career, but a more impressive 2.18 ERA at PETCO Park. Hamels keeps improving as the season progresses, however the problem seems to be run support. The lack of run support for Hamels is getting extremely tiring. Hopefully that changes today.

Overall, Clayton Richard has solid numbers for the season. His repitoire includes a two-seam fastball, a slurve, and a changeup. He typically keeps the ball down, forcing many ground balls.

Olsen vs. Oswalt: Battle of the O's

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Washington Nationals (53-70) at Philadelphia Phillies (69-53)
Scott Olsen (3-5, 5.13 RA) vs. Roy Oswalt (8-13, 3.36 ERA)

Kyle Kendrick was rocked and Stephen Strasburg struck out six in the Nationals' 8-1 victory last night. The series is split at a game apiece, but this is a series that the Phillies need to win. Taking advantage of a last place team certainly helps in the standings. The Phillies have a good chance with Roy Oswalt on the mound.

Oswalt would like another chance against Washington. His first start as a Phillie was at Nationals Park, and he did not make the Phillies debut that he would have liked.

When he was a Marlin, Scott Olsen said that he "hates the Phillies." He must dispise facing them, since he has a 5.56 earned run average against them. Olsen has missed some time due to injuries this year, but he has really struggled in the month of August, posting an ERA near 11 in three starts.

The Nationals have not won back-to-back games at Citizens Bank Park since 2005. The Phillies would like to keep it that way, and boost their playoff chances.

Today's lineup:Rollins (SS), Ibanez (LF), Polanco (3B), Howard (1B), Werth (RF), Victorino (CF), Ruiz (C), Valdez (2B), Oswalt (P). Just a scheduled off day for Utley.

Strasburg Makes First Start vs. Phillies

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Washington Nationals (52-70) at Philadelphia Phillies (69-52)
Stephen Strasburg (5-2, 2.97 ERA) vs. Kyle Kendrick (8-5, 4.45 ERA)

Roy Halladay hasn't received a whole lot of run support this year. The Phillies scored one run yesterday, but Halladay took care of the rest, blanking the Nationals over seven innings. When Halladay is on the mound, there is a good feeling that the Phillies win. On the other hand, when Kyle Kendrick pitches, it's always uncertain as to what type of performance he will have.

The Nationals will send out their young stud, Stephen Strasburg. If you haven't heard of this guy, you probably haven't paid any attention to baseball. The 22-year old was the first overall pick in the 2009 draft, and his game can't get any more hyped. Strasburg throws a 100 mph fastball regularly, featuring a changeup at around 90 mph. You read that right: a 90 mph changeup. Regardless, his stuff is electric.

Tonight will be the very first time the Phillies will face Strasburg, but there will be many more meetings between the two. So far, Strasburg has made two starts since returning from the disabled list with a shoulder injury. The rookie has been under the spotlight in each and every one of his starts, but so far as yet to disappoint. He's the real deal.

Maybe Ryan Howard can greet Strasburg with a long ball. Howard returns from the disabled list tonight, which is earlier than what was originally expected.

Nationals Are Improved, But Phillies Should Still Win

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Washington Nationals (52-69) at Philadelphia Phillies (68-52)
Jason Marquis (0-5, 14.33 ERA) vs. Roy Halladay (15-8, 2.24 ERA)

On paper, this is a series that the Phillies should win. After all, they are playing a last place team. The Phillies lead the Wild Card and trail the division by 2.5 games, but the Nationals aren't exactly playing for nothing. Yes, they are in last place, but compared to last year they have greatly improved. Who knows, after inking Bryce Harper to a multi-million dollar deal and having Stephen Strasburg at the top of the rotation, the Nationals could be a few years away from contending. But right now they are still bad. Not quite terrible, but still fairly bad. They are seven wins shy of matching last year's win total, and it's only the middle of August. They want to finish the year strong, and are now in spoiler mode.

Roy Halladay starts for the Phillies, and it's pretty well know what he can do on the hill. He is 6-1 with a 2.43 earned run average in his career against Washington. Halladay's opposition is Jason Marquis, who spent most of the season on the disabled list. He has struggled since returning. It doesn't help that he has a 5.51 ERA in his career against the Phillies.

Phillies Aim To Sweep Giants

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San Francisco Giants (67-54) at Philadelphia Phillies (68-51)
Jonathan Sanchez (8-8 3.60 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (7-9, 3.33 ERA)

Two days ago, the Philadelphia Phillies trailed the San Francisco Giants in the National League Wild Card. Now, the Phillies are on the verge of sweeping them.

Too many times, Cole Hamels has fell a victim of lack of run support. Hamels is coming off an outing in which he only allowed one run, however the Phillies only managed one hit off R.A Dickey. It has been a reoccurring theme for Hamels. The Giants have a tremendous pitching staff, and have another solid starter today, but the Phillies have been tacking on runs throughout this series. Hamels hopes to get more run support so he can get a win for a change. He is in the midst of a hot streak, posting a 1.82 earned run average in his last five starts.

Sanchez has had a decent year for the Giants. Recently, he has had some trouble making it through six innings, but he still has good numbers for the year. He is a strikeout pitcher, but occasionally can get wild.

Kendrick, Pelfrey Finish Out Series

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Philadelphia Phillies (65-51) at New York Mets (58-58)
Kyle Kendrick (7-5, 4.60 ERA) vs. Mike Pelfrey (11-6, 3.95 ERA)

Tonight, the Phillies and Mets wrap up a three-game series that is currently split at a game apiece. On Friday, Cole Hamels fell on the short end as R.A Dickey one-hit the Phillies. Roy Halladay was the stopper in last night's victory, shutting out the Mets in eight frames.

Kyle Kendrick has been all or nothing in most of his starts this year. He has either dominated, or been lit up. In six starts against New York, Kendrick has fared well posting an ERA of 3.34. It is never really certain on what Kendrick will do.

Kendrick will be opposed by Mike Pelfrey, who has had a solid year with the Mets. Against the Phillies, he has been very up and down. Sometimes the Phillies can pound him; other times he pounds the Phillies.

If the Mets end up getting into a save situation, Francisco Rodriguez would likely be asked to close. Today, K-Rod returns from his two-game suspension due to a third-degree assault. It would be nice if the Phillies could score many runs and avoid a potential K-Rod animated celebration.

Kershaw & Blanton Meet in Rubbermatch

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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.

Santana & Hamels Face to Face

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New York Mets (54-55) at Philadelphia Phillies (61-48)
Johan Santana, LHP (8-6, 3.20 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (7-7, 3.56 ERA)

A huge eighth inning rally helped lead the Phillies to a 7-5 victory over the New York Mets last night. Tonight, the ball will be handed to Cole Hamels, who can hopefully go deep into tonight's game after a rocky bullpen performance yesterday. Hamels will be opposed by Johan Santana, who hasn't had quite the year many expected, although still having a solid season.

In his career against the Mets, Cole Hamels has lacked support from his offense, falling 2-5, despite having an ERA in the threes. On the other hand, Santana has gotten run support, posting a 4-2 record with an ERA above four in games against the Phillies.

Placido Polanco has the best numbers against Santana throughout his career. He has a .386 average with a home run. David Wright has the best numbers against Hamels, having a .345 average against him.

The Phillies look to continue their hot steak, both at home and on the road. Even though this team is plagued with injuries, the replacement players are doing their part to help the team win. Good teams need non-star players to step it up in key situations.

Oswalt To Make Phillies Debut

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Philadelphia Phillies (56-46) at Washington Nationals (44-58)

Roy Oswalt (6-12, 3.43 ERA) vs. Craig Stammen (2-4, 5.50 ERA)

The Phillies have put together a nice eight game winning streak, putting themselves ten games over .500. It's been awhile since the Phillies found themselves at that mark, but they are also closing in on the gap in the division and wild card (2.5 GB in the National League East; 1.5 GB in the Wild Card). Now, they have another ace on the mound, and facing a very sweep-able last place team. The Phillies even lucked out by not seeing Stephen Strasburg this series. Things keep getting better and better. Other teams should start to worry.

The last time the Phillies were in Washington, Roy Halladay made his Phillies debut. Now, another Roy will be doing the same. Newly acquired Roy Oswalt will make his first start as a Phillie, after waiving his no-trade clause in a trade that sent J.A Happ and two minor leaguers to Houston.

Oswalt is 6-12 this season, but don't let that record fool you. The Astros are not a good team, and failed to give Oswalt run support. Hence why wins aren't a good stat to use to determine how good a pitcher is. Oswalt has a good ERA of 3.42 and WHIP of 1.11. He averages about two walks, seven hits, and eight strikeouts per nine innings, having a respectable walks/strikeout ratio. He does not surrender the long ball often.

Oswalt finished in the top 5 in the Cy Young voting five times in his ten-year career. His repertoire consists of a fastball, curveball, changeup, and a slider. His curveball is his best off-speed pitch.

On the flip side, Craig Stammen goes for Washington. The 26-year old did not make it through six innings in his last five starts. He has struggled heavily against the Phillies, having an ERA over 15 in two starts.

Nine in a row would be sweet for the Phillies. Perhaps even sweeter because Roy Oswalt is a Phillie, and at a steal.

Howard Heats Up as Blanton Looks To Rebound

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Philadelphia Phillies (47-41) at Chicago Cubs (40-50)
Joe Blanton (3-5, 6.41 ERA) vs. Ted Lilly (3-8, 4.08 ERA)

Last night was one to forget. Forget about it, and start fresh today.

Joe Blanton needs to get back on the right track. Now would be the perfect time to turn things around. Throughout his career, he has been a second half pitcher (4.33 in the first half; 3.99 in the second half).

With a solid performance today, Ted Lilly could raise his market value. The soon-to-be free agent has been linked to several trade rumors. Lilly has struggled in his last five starts, posting an earned run average over six. His career numbers against the Phillies are not pretty either, also with an ERA over six.

One positive from last night's game was Ryan Howard, who homered twice. Howard has received some criticism for his lower power numbers, but expect them to rise. Howard's on-base plus slugging percentage is .875 in the first half throughout his career. In the second half, it is 1.045! That's a major difference. This is the time of the year Howard really starts to heat up. Howard does have a home run in his book against Lilly.

Phillies Start 2nd Half at Wrigley

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Philadelphia Phillies (47-40) at Chicago Cubs (39-50)
Jamie Moyer (9-8, 4.51 ERA) vs. Ryan Dempster (7-7, 3.61 ERA)

The Phillies closed the first half with a four-game sweep over Cincinnati. The Phillies would like to begin the second half with a victory, extending the win streak. During this time last year, the Phillies found themselves a hot streak, ultimately winning ten in a row. Of course, that team had a comfortable first place lead, while this team battles back to first. The Phillies have been a second half team for the past few years, and hope this year is no different.

Jamie Moyer will take the hill against the team that he debuted with in the 80's. Overall, Moyer is 3-2 with a 4.46 ERA against his former club. Moyer will be facing an underachieving Cubs offense. Aramais Ramirez and Derek Lee have struggled all season. Alfonso Soriano has been very streaky, although he has picked it up after a slow start.

Ryan Dempster has been the Cubs' most consistent starter. Dempster is 4-3 with a 5.15 ERA against the Phillies in his career, but the collective lineup is batting .221 against him. He last faced the Phillies in May, surrendering four runs in six innings.

Both teams are 1-1 head-to-head this season, and both are well rested. It's been a few days since either team has swung a bat or threw a baseball. Will they start off slow to try and regain their rhythm? Or will they look fresh with a new boost of energy?

Phillies Aim To Sweep Reds

Cincinnati Reds (49-40) at Philadelphia Phillies (46-40)
Matt Maloney (0-1, 4.76 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (6-7, 4.05)

Just as everybody is about to write them off, the Phillies pull everybody back in. Not only has their three straight walk-off wins improved their record, but perhaps has given the team that "swagger" they once had. Last night, Travis Wood was nearly perfect, but even perfection can't beat Roy Halladay. Halladay kept the Phillies in the game with nine shutout innings, and for the third straight night, the Phillies won in extra innings. Jimmy Rollins came through with the eleventh inning clutch hit. Who will get the walk-off today, as the Phillies will attempt to sweep the four-game set?

There's always that one team that a pitcher absolutely destroys. For Cole Hamels, it is the Cincinnati Reds. In his career against the Reds, Hamels is 5-0 with a 1.26 earned run average. He has 39 strikeouts in 43 innings against them.

Maloney is filling in for an injured Aaron Harang. Maloney is making his second start of the season, and possibly his last with the possibility of Harang returning. Maloney surrendered three runs in 5.2 innings against the Mets in his last start. Sometimes it's these "no-name" pitchers that have the most success against the Phillies, so don't tab them for 12 runs yet.

This is the final game before the All Star Break. The Phillies would like it to end on a high note, with a sweep.

Halladay Takes on Reds

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Cincinnati Reds (49-39) at Philadelphia Phillies (45-40).
Travis Wood (0-0, 3.86 ERA) vs. Roy Halladay (10-7, 2.33 ERA).

How can last night's comeback be topped? How about with a Halladay?

With Roy Halladay on the hill, there is a very good chance that the Phillies can win the series, since they already took the first two games of the four game set. The only setback could be the weather. It's been raining all day, and the forecast isn't too promising. Let's hope they can get this one in without a delay. A rain delay in the middle of the game could take Halladay out of the game, putting it into the hands of the bullpen.

Everybody knows what to expect from Halladay. He could easily have 13 or 14 wins, if not for a struggling offense. On the other hand, it's unsure what to expect from Travis Wood, who is making his third Major League start. The Reds have several top pitching prospects, and Wood is one of them. Wood has pitched well in his 11.2 innings in the big leagues, but still seeks his first win. Against Roy Halladay, odds are against him.

The Reds may have some concern if Wood struggles, or has to be lifted due to a rain delay. The Reds bullpen has struggled two nights in a row, and has been worked for quite a few innings. Getting to the Reds' bullpen could be a key for the Phillies.

The Phillies are in a pretty good position to take the series tonight, but as shown last night, anything can happen.

Blanton Looks To End 1st Half on High Note

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Cincinnati Reds (49-38) at Philadelphia Phillies (44-40).
Mike Leake (6-1, 3.38 ERA) vs. Joe Blanton (3-5, 6.27 ERA)

It wasn't pretty. It wasn't easy. But the Phillies pulled out a much needed victory in last night's 4-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds, thanks to Brian Schneider's walk-off home run. Hopefully tonight's game is a little more well-played, and a Phillies win can come easier.

Unfortunately, wins haven't come easy for Joe Blanton, but it would be nice to see him end the first half on a high note. He is 3-3 with a 3.63 ERA in his last ten starts, however, the big right-hander has struggled all season long, as opponents are batting .294 against him. Many times, he has become a victim of a big inning for the opposition. Blanton needs to limit the damage and put his team into position to win. In addition, as witnessed last night, the bullpen can not always be relied on. The Phillies could use seven or eight innings from Blanton. With that being said, the Phillies also need to score more than four runs. They'll have to do that against Mike Leake.

Leake, who skipped the minor leagues completely, has had a solid rookie campaign. Leake had a stretch where he struggled, but overall he has pitched very well. Last week, the Phillies were able to figure him out, scoring six runs in six innings against him. It would be nice to see the Phillies do that again.

The Reds are contenders this year. They're going to continue to play the Phillies tough. The Phillies just have to keep up with them. For the Phillies to show that they are still in this race, they need to beat other first place teams. This is a perfect time for it.

Lineup: There are some late changes to both lineups: Wilson Valdez was scratched due to a sore left wrist, so Juan Castro is playing 2nd. Scott Rolen is out with a sore back, so Miguel Cairo is playing 3rd.

Hamels Seeks to Continue Phillies Hot Streak

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Philadelphia Phillies (39-32) at Toronto Blue Jays (39-35)
Cole Hamels, LHP (6-5, 3.75ERA) vs. Shaun Marcum, RHP (6-3, 3.24 ERA)

The Phillies are back to their old ways of offensive explosions and lights out pitching. This is the team that Philadelphia fans love to watch.

There was certainly no home field advantage for the Blue Jays, who were given a 9-0 beat down from the Phillies. The Blue Jays will remain the home team throughout this series, but at Citizens Bank Park, the advantage always goes to the team dressed in red pinstripes (but in this case, the gray road uniforms).

Shaun Marcum, who missed all of 2009 due to an injury, will take the hill for the Jays. Marcum has been solid in 15 starts this season. His earned run average sits at 3.24 and he has a decent WHIP of 1.14. Opponents are batting just .238 against him, however the newly re-surged Phillies offense could give him a surprise.

Cole Hamels continues to look stellar. In his last outing, he had one rough inning before settling in. This seems to be a reoccurring theme for Hamels. Hamels tends to be inconsistent, but lately he's pitched very well. Hamels just needs to avoid that one bad inning, and his ERA will slowly drop, and the wins will pile up.

Hamels Looks To Keep It Going vs. Twins

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The Minnesota Twins (38-31) play versus the Philadelphia Phillies (35-30). Kevin Slowey, RHP (7-4, 3.84 ERA) starts vs. Cole Hamels, LHP (6-5, 3.74 ERA).

Three in a row, Phils. Keep it going!

In last night's victory, there was quite a power display from Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. There's nothing like a little boost in the 'ole slugging percentage, and hopefully the middle of the order can continue to show off their power against Kevin Slowey. Slowey, like Nick Blackburn, is not exactly overpowering, therefore there could be more crooked numbers today.

Cole Hamels will try for his seventh win of the season. His win-loss record does not reflect the way he has pitched because of the lack of run support at times. Hamels has shown signs of returning to his 2008 form, however he still tends to get plagued by the long ball. Hamels has already allowed 14 home runs this year, and the Twins have plenty of hitters who are capable of going yard.

Luckily, Joe Mauer (.271 in June) and Justin Morneau (.204 in June) are not as hot with the bat as they can be. Despite still having great offensive numbers, they are both in a little bit of a funk, compared to some of the numbers they have put up throughout their careers.

Phillies/Yankees Rematch

Philadelphia Phillies (32-30) at New York Yankees (41-23).
Jamie Moyer, LHP (6-6, 5.03 ERA) vs. A.J Burnett, RHP (6-3, 3.86 ERA).

The losing ways continue. With last night's 8-3 loss to the Yankees, the Phillies dropped to 8-17 in their last 25 games. Not only is that the second worst record in the majors, but they've only averaged 2.6 runs per game.

The offense has been pathetic, but the Phillies are still more than capable of putting up crooked numbers, especially at Yankee Stadium. Just 314 down the right field line, the Phillies left-handed power bats could use a short-porch, like Mark Teixeria's homer last night.

The Phillies will have to get to A.J Burnett in order to for them to do anything offensively. Burnett is 5-8 with a 4.75 ERA in his career against the Phillies. In the 2009 World Series, he went 1-1; he was terrific in his 3-1 victory, but was lit up in his 8-6 loss.

Even if the Phillies can put up big numbers, Jamie Moyer will have to keep the Yankees' bats in tact. Moyer is coming off a start in which he could not get an out in the second inning. Against the Yankees, Moyer is 4-3 with a 5.37 ERA in his career.

Tonight's Lineup:Victorino (CF), Polanco (3B), Utley (2B), Howard (1B), Werth (RF), Ibanez (LF), Dobbs (DH), Schneider (C), Valdez (SS), Moyer P.

Phillies Open Series in Atlanta

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Philadelphia Phillies (28-21) at Atlanta Braves (28-22).
Joe Blanton (1-3, 5.63) vs. Tommy Hanson (4-3, 4.06)

This is a big series. Due to the Phillies' offensive hiatus and the Braves' five game win streak, the Braves find themselves a half game behind the Phillies. If the Phillies want to stay in first, they need to find their bats.

The Phillies certaintly can not count on breaking out of their slump against Tommy Hanson. The young righty has proved that his rookie year was no fluke, and that he is the real deal.

The Phillies pitching has been great of late. Joe Blanton has been one of the few that has struggled, however. In addition, his numbers against the Atlanta Braves are not pretty. Regardless, no matter how well Blanton pitches, the Phillies need to score.