Series Preview: Phillies @ Cubs, 8/11-8/13

The NL East leading Phillies (61-48) head to Chicago to face the Cubs (58-51) in a three game series. The Phillies are 3-8 since completing a stretch when they won 19 of 22 games. The Phillies won 2 of 3 in a series with the Cubs in Philadelphia last month. Below you will find pitching match ups and other notes on this series.


Tuesday, 8:05pm. "Jay" Happ (8-2, 2.74 ERA) vs. Rich Harden (7-7, 4.41 ERA). Happ on the road this season is 4-1 with a 1.72 ERA in 12 games. Happ hasn't faced the Cubs before. Harden's ERA is 1.80 over his last 5 starts. This season at home, Harden is 3-5 with a 6.84 ERA in 10 starts. The usual 8 starting position players for the Phillies (Rollins, Victorino, Utley, Howard, Ibanez, Werth, Feliz and Ruiz) are a combined 13-for-76 (.171 avg) with 2 homers and 3 RBI against Harden in their careers.


Wednesday, 8:05pm. Pedro Martinez (No ML starts this season) vs. Jeff Samardzija (1-1, 6.29 ERA). Pedro will be making his debut at the Major League level for the Phillies. Samardzija has not started a game this season for the Cubs. He is starting in place of Carlos Zambrano, who is on the disabled list with back trouble.


Thursday, 2:20pm. Cliff Lee (2-0, 1.13 ERA) vs. Ryan Dempster (6-5, 4.04 ERA). In his career against the Cubs, Lee is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA over 14 2/3 innings pitched in 2 starts. Lee has a 5-3 record and a 3.03 ERA in 12 road starts between both leagues this year. Dempster is 4-3 with a 4.76 ERA in 20 career games against the Phillies. Matt Stairs is 4-for-7 with 3 homers, 6 RBI and 3 walks against Dempster in his career.


Derrek Lee is batting .315 with a 1.022 OPS in 23 games since the all star break.

Brad Lidge on the road this season is 0-2 with 10 saves, 5 blown saves and a 7.79 ERA.

In his career against the Cubs, Ryan Madson is 1-0 with 1 save, a 7.20 ERA and a .341 batting avg. against, in 13 games.

Greg Dobbs is a .393 career hitter (11-for-28) against the Cubs in 14 games.

Team runs scored, Phillies- 569
Team runs scored, Cubs- 487

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