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

-----------------------

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.

Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE!

PhoulBallz Interview: BlueClaws OF Justin Crawford

Justin Crawford w/ junior reporter Evan At the age of 19, outfielder Justin Crawford has played his way into the conversation of being considered as one of baseball's top prospects. The son of four-time MLB All-Star Carl Crawford, Justin has looked every bit as impressive as his position as the 17th overall draft selection last year would have most fans thinking he should be. He opened the season with Class A Clearwater where, in 69 games, he notched a .344/.399/.478 slash line. And since mid-August when he was promoted to Class A Advanced Jersey Shore, the younger Crawford has posted a .300/.364/.440 line. He's also stolen 44 bases in 52 attempts overall. And while the BlueClaws enter the final week of the regular season 1/2 game out of first place in their division, I spoke with Justin Crawford about the team's hopes of making the postseason for the first time since 2018. I also asked Justin about the similarities and differences between his skillset and his father'

Jersey Shore clinches playoff berth on final day of regular season

Ottto Kemp, image- Jay Floyd With an extra-inning victory over first-half division champions Hudson Valley on Sunday, the Class A Advanced Jersey Shore BlueClaws clinched the team's first playoff appearance since 2018, winning the second-half division title. Key performers in the BlueClaws' clincher were righty hurler Jason Ruffcorn, who threw three innings of relief to earn the victory and third baseman Otto Kemp, notched three hits, a walk, two stolen bases and plated the game winning run in the 11th inning on a sacrifice fly. On top of that, Kemp, who turned 24-years-old on Saturday, made an absolute game-saving defensive play to help the club hold their lead in the bottom of the 11th frame. One of Jersey Shore's most consistent performers all season long has been right-handed reliever Cam Wynne. The Phillies' 20th round draft pick in 2021 out of Nebraska. In 34 appearances, one start, the 24-year-old tallied a 1-1 record with one save, a 2.44 ERA and a .190 batti

RHP Pipkin headed to AFL after hot August

After completing what was easily the best month of his career, righty hurler Dominic Pipkin is ready to face the tough competition of the prominent Arizona Fall Leage. Pipkin, who was the Phillies' 9th round draft selection in 2018, has had moderate success in his five years as a pro, posting a 4.93 ERA, a 7.6 K/9 mark and a .260 batting average against mostly at the lower levels on the minors. After missing time this year with an unspecified ailment, the six-foot-four 170-pounder proved to be healthy as he dominated AA competition in nine appearances with the Reading Fightin Phils during August. Pipkin's impressive production resulted in a 1-0 record with a save and a 0.96 ERA while striking out eight and walking three in 9 1/3 innings. The California native says his efforts to improve have helped him touch 100 MPH on the radar gun, while his fastball velocity is mostly around 96 MPH. Pipkin's arsenal includes that improved fastball as well as a slider while his curve

PhoulBallz.com

Search This Blog