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.
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Nik Nasty