The Phillies head back on the road to visit CitiField and the Metropolitans to start a four game series this weekend. The Phillies (69-49) lead the Metropolitans (56-65) by 14.5 games in the NL East. The Phillies won't face Johan Santana in this series. Read on for pitching match ups and more notes on this upcoming clash.
Friday, 7:10pm. Cole Hamels (7-7, 4.69 ERA) vs. Mike Pelfrey (4.75 ERA). Colbert on the road this season is 3-4 with a 5.34 ERA in 11 starts. In 8 starts vs. the NL East this year, Hamels is 2-2 with a 5.62 ERA in 41 2/3 innings. Pelfrey, the 2005 1st round draft pick, is 3-2 with a 4.02 ERA in 7 career starts against the Phillies. Greg Dobbs is 6-for-11 (.545 avg) in his career vs. Pelfrey with a homer and 3 RBI. Pelfrey is 1-4 with a 5.50 ERA in 6 starts since the all star break.
Saturday, 7:10pm. "Jay" Happ (9-2, 2.66 ERA) vs. Tim Redding (1-4, 6.53 ERA). The Metropolitans are hitting .195 against Happ this year, over 11 innings. Happ, in 16 career games on the road, is 6-1 with a 1.61 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and .192 batting avg. against. Redding slides back into the role of starter after the Metropolitans released Livan Hernandez on Thursday. Redding at home this season, is 1-2 with a 7.17 ERA in 12 games. Last year, in 5 starts against the Phillies while pitching for the Nationals, Redding was 3-1 with a 3.41 ERA and .219 batting avg. against. Ryan Howard is 3-for-24 (.125 avg) with no homers and 1 RBI in his career vs. Redding. Chase Utley is 9-for-21 (.429 avg) with 2 homers and 6 RBI against Redding.
Sunday, 1:10pm. Pedro Martinez (1-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. Oliver Perez (3-3, 6.06 ERA). Pedro against the Metropolitans in his career is 10-3 with a 2.16 ERA in 18 games. At home this year, Perez is 3-1 with a 5.64 ERA in 6 games. Pedro Feliz is 1-for-19 (.053) in his career against Perez. Eric Bruntlett is 4-for-9 off of Perez in his career.
Monday, 1:10pm. Cliff Lee (4-0, 0.82 ERA) vs. Bobby Parnell (3-5, 4.74 ERA). Lee has won 7 straight starts and has a .161 batting avg. against, since he came over to the National League. Lee has never faced the Metropolitans before. Parnell gave up 9 earned runs in 3 innings of work, in his last start against the Braves. Parnell at CitiField this season is 2-4 with a 5.35 ERA.
Luis Castillo is batting .382 in August with 1 homer and 8 RBI. Castillo is a .275 hitter in 127 career games against the Phillies.
Billy Wagner made his return to the Major Leagues on Thursday night, following Tommy John surgery last year. Wagner pitched a scoreless inning and struck out 2.
Since the All star break, the Phillies are 14-3 in games when Ryan Howard drives in at least one run. The team is 7-8 when he plays and doesn't drive in a run. Ryan Howard in his last 7 games- 9-for-26 (.346 avg), 6 HR, 16 RBI, 9 runs scored.
Phillies reliever Scott Eyre on the road this season is 2-1 with a 0.57 ERA in 21 games. Eyre has only given up earned runs in two appearances this season. Eyre's ERA though 56 games as a Phillie is 1.77.
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Dear Mets, you can't hide. The World Champs are coming!
