Series Preview: Astros at Phillies, 9/28-10/1

Ed Wade's Houston Astros (72-83) come to town to face the Phillies (90-65) for a four game series beginning Monday night. The Phillies' magic number to clinch a third straight division title stands at 3. The Phillies need a combination of their own victories and Braves losses totalling 3 to win the NL East and take the first step toward adding to the team's ring jewelry collection. Read on for additional information and pitching matchups from this series.

Monday, 7:05pm. Yorman Bazardo (0-2, 9.55 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (10-9, 4.11 ERA). Bazardo, one of Ed Wade's many former Philadelphia players, has allowed 15 walks in 21 2/3 innings pitched this year. Bazardo was signed by the Phillies last offseason, but was released this spring. Cole's ERA over his last 6 starts is 2.01. At home this season, Hamels is 7-3 with a 3.29 ERA. Carlos Lee is the only active Astro to homer against Colbert. Lee is 3-for-14 (.214 avg) with a HR and 7 RBI vs. Hamels. Colbert's last loss was against the Astros on September 6th.

Tuesday, 7:05pm. Wilton Lopez (0-0, 8.44 ERA) vs. "Jay" Happ (11-4, 2.79 ERA). Lopez, a rookie, has appeared in just 6 relief appearances this season and Houston has lost each of those games. Happ is 4-2 with a 3.98 ERA at Citizens Bank Park this year. Happ's batting average against in 3 September starts is .317. Happ has not faced Houston in his career.

Wednesday, 7:05. Brian Moehler (8-11, 5.21 ERA) vs. Cliff Lee (7-3, 3.28 ERA). Moehler is 2-3 with a 6.19 ERA in 12 games against the Phillies. In 5 career games at Citizens Bank Park, Moehler has a 7.06 ERA. Ryan Howard is 10-for-20 against Moehler with 3 homers and 7 RBI. Raul Ibanez is 2-for-13 (.154 avg) against Moehler...both hits are homeruns. Cliff Lee is 3-1 with a 2.10 ERA at CBP since joining the Phillies. Carlos Lee is 6-for-18 with 2 HR against Cliff Lee.

Thursday, 7:05. Felipe Paulino (2-11, 6.51 ERA) vs. Pedro Martinez (5-1, 3.32 ERA). Paulino is 1-6 with a 8.37 ERA in 9 road games this year. Paulino has lost his last 5 starts. Pedro has a 0.90 ERA in 4 home starts as a Phillie. There is a possibility that Pedro's start could come sooner than Thursday, as he was scratched from his start on Saturday due to neck pain. In his career vs. Houston, Martinez is 6-7 with a 4.03 ERA through 16 starts.

Mike Bourn is a .318 career hitter with 9 steals in 11 games against the Phillies. Bourn leads the National League in steals with 59.

Chris Coste has not homered yet as an Astro. His OPS is an extremely low .516 with Houston.

In 22 games against the Astros, Jayson Werth has a .191 avg. with 2 homeruns and 5 RBI. Werth is currently in the midst of a 2-for-28 slump (.071 avg).

Carlos Ruiz is still expected to miss at least one more game with a sprained wrist. In 14 career games against the Astros, Ruiz has a .326 batting average.

Team runs scored Astros- 621
Team runs scored Phillies- 786

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BlueClaws Blog has details on a minor league matchup from 2003 when Cole Hamels, then a BlueClaw, faced Marlins prospect Yormin Bazardo. Check that out here.

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This Guy Speaks For All of You

This individual, interviewed by FOX 29 on Friday as the Phillies arrived back at Citizens Bank Park, said it best. When asked how he felt regarding the Phillies, he told Steve Keeley that he was, "Stoked, baby!" The unidentified phanatic then proclaimed, "We are talking about the Fightins here, the Fightins! Said!" Check out the media player below, as the transcribed version certainly does not do this phireball of phandom justice. The Phillies forced game 6 of the National League Championship Series with a 4-2 victory over the Giants in San Francisco on Thursday night. Game 6 will feature Roy Oswalt vs. Jonathan Sanchez in a return pitching match up from game 2. First pitch is scheduled for 7:57 pm EST at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Be sure to tune in on 97.3 ESPN's Weekend Sports Guide with Tyrone Johnson this afternoon around 1:15pm to hear me chatting about the Phillies! 97.3 is based in Atlantic City. You can listen live online HERE . _________

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