Weekend Series Preview: Boston at Philadelphia

Interleague play returns in a meeting of the current Eastern Division leaders from both leagues and the last two World Series champs. The Red Sox are coming to Philadelphia. Pitching match ups and more notes follow...

Friday, 7:05pm. Jon Lester (5-5, 5.09 ERA) vs. Joe Blanton (4-3, 5.46 ERA). Lester on the road this season- 6 starts, 2-3 record, 6.14 ERA. Pedro Feliz, Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez are a combined 7-for-12 (.583 avg.) in their careers against Lester. Blanton is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in his last 3 starts, after going 2-3 with a 7.11 ERA over his first 8 starts this season. Blanton, in his career, is 3-2 with a 3.75 ERA in 8 starts against Boston.

Saturday, 7:05pm. Daisuke Matsuzaka (1-4, 7.33 ERA) vs. Antonio Bastardo (2-0, 2.45 ERA). "Dice-K" has not pitched more than 5 2/3 innings in any outing this season. Matsuzaka has never faced the Phillies in the regular season. Raul Ibanez is 2-for-11 (.182 avg) with 3 RBI in his career against Matsuzaka. Matt Stairs is 4-for-7 against Matsuzaka in his career. Bastardo, the 23 year old, will be making his third career MLB start. Bastardo's WHIP is 1.18.

Sunday, 1:35pm. Josh Beckett (7-2, 3.77 ERA) vs. "Jay" Happ (4-0, 2.98 ERA). Beckett, in 18 career games, is 8-3 with a 3.67 ERA against the Phillies. His career ERA in Philadelphia is 4.11, in 35 innings pitched. Pedro Feliz is 4-for-9 with 2 doubles and a HR against Beckett in his career. In his last 4 starts, Beckett's ERA is 0.31. Happ will be making his 10th career ML start. Happ's ERA as a starter this year is 3.42 in 4 games. In 8 home games this year, Happ's ERA is 4.32, but he's held opponents to a .200 average against.

Jimmy Rollins in 21 career games against the Red Sox, has 4 homers, 18 RBI, a .337 batting average and a .982 OPS.

Ryan Madson has a career 8.31 ERA in his career (5 games, 8 2/3 innings, 8 earned runs) against the Red Sox.

Mike Lowell has hit more homeruns in his career against the Phillies (26), than he has against any other team. His next closest team total is 16 against the Rays. Lowell is also a career .333 hitter (17-for-78) with a 1.091 OPS in 21 games at Citizens Bank Park.

Boston team runs scored- 317
Phillies team runs scored- 318

Boston team ERA- 4.19
Phillies team ERA- 4.60

Boston on the road- 15-16
Phillies at home- 12-14
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Programming reminder- MLB Network premieres their original program The Pen this Sunday night at 8pm. It features an exclusive inside look at the Phillies' relief pitchers on and off the field. Fomer Phillie Mitch Williams is set to narrate the 6 episode season. Click here for more details.

Lidge Shaky, T-Mac Honored in Trenton

TRENTON, NJ- Brad Lidge made his second rehab appearance for the Double A Reading Phillies on Thursday night and it didn't go as well as the veteran reliever or the team had hoped. Lidge struggled with his command and turned in a rather poor outing for the club that entered the night in a playoff race, 1 game behind division rival Trenton for the Wild Card spot in the Eastern Division. On the disabled list since spring training with a strained right rotator cuff, Lidge experienced an elbow strain when he was working back from that issue in late May. In his outing against the Yankees affiliate in Trenton, Lidge displayed difficulty with his control as he threw three wild pitches, hit two batters, walked another and gave up a single, all while letting up two earned runs on 28 pitches in 2/3 of an inning. After the disappointing performance, Lidge was composed and focused on some positive aspects, having reached 89 and 90 MPH on scouts' radar guns, according to some reports. ...

Jason Knapp Q&A

PhoulBallz .com was fortunate enough to meet with Phillies prospect Jason Knapp just one day after he caught the attention of the baseball world with his 7 shut out innings, 14 strike out performance against the Indians' Lake County team. - I asked Jason, the Lakewood BlueClaw , for some thoughts about his big game... I had pretty good command of three pitches (fastball, curve, change up). I was on the same page with my catcher, D'Arnaud , and I ended up, ya know, I felt pretty good. - In a great performance like that, how much credit goes to Travis D'Arnaud , the catcher? More than you might expect, definitely. I didn't shake him off once. He told me what to throw and I do what I'm told. And if it works out, a lot of the credit goes to the catcher. - Does the lack of run support (Lakewood has scored 3 total runs in his 3 starts), in your few starts, increase your stress level, or enhance your focus? No, I just try to go out and do my job every outing. Ya know, we...

Eric B Needs to be Cut (and My Name is Rakim)

While the Phillies are on a hot streak this month, one player on the team is not. Eric Bruntlett is 1-for-12 in July. Since the start of May, Bruntlett's apex in batting average has been .167 on June 14th. Bruntlett's ineptitude can be tolerated no longer. Get rid of this guy NOW! Eric B. is the 2009 Endy Chavez. Remember Endy...the guy who in 2005 managed just 2 hits in his final 42 games played as a Phillie? That is about the sort of output the Phillies are getting from Bruntlett, and it's time to fix this void. Julio Lugo was designated for assignment last week by the Red Sox and is expected to become a free agent. The Metropolitans are rumored to be interested. Why wouldn't the Phillies be interested in a guy who could surely outhit Bruntlett? Lugo was hitting .284 through 37 games played this season with Boston. Suspended Lehigh Valley IronPig Pablo Ozuna is eligible to return next Wednesday. Ozuna is batting .294 through 51 games at triple A. Miguel Cairo is also...

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