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Series Preview: Phillies at Houston, 9/4-9/7


The Phillies (77-54) visit Ed Wade and the Houston Astros (63-70) this weekend for a four game series. This will mark the first time these two teams have faced each other this season. Read below for pitching match ups and important notes from this series.


Friday, 8:05pm. Cliff Lee (5-1, 1.80 ERA - NL) vs. Wandy Rodriguez (12-9, 2.93 ERA). Cliff Lee is 7-3 with a 2.67 ERA on the road this season. Batters are hitting .211 off of Lee since he joined the Phillies. Lee's last start, a loss to the Braves, was only the second time all season that Lee has surrendered more than one homerun in a game. Wandy Rodriguez is 3-8 with a 4.63 ERA in 18 career games in September. At home this season, Wandy is 7-2 with a 1.73 ERA in 12 starts. Wandy has given up 6 earned runs in 6 2/3 innings against the Phillies in his career. Jimmy Rollins is 3-for-5 against Rodriguez with a homerun.


Saturday, 7:05pm. Joe Blanton (9-6, 3.77 ERA) vs. Roy Oswalt (8-5, 3.80 ERA). In his last 12 starts, Joe Blanton is 5-2 with a 2.41 ERA. Carlos Lee is 4-for-9 (.444 avg) against Blanton. Oswalt is 6-1 with a 3.28 ERA in 10 career games against Philadelphia. In 4 starts against the NL east this season, Oswalt has no decisions with a 6.88 ERA. Pedro Feliz is 14-for-31 (.452 avg) with 2 HR and 8 RBI against Roy Oswalt. Chase Utley is 3-for-20 (.150 avg) with no homers against Oswalt.


Sunday, 2:05pm. Cole Hamels (8-8, 4.26 ERA) vs. Bud Norris (3-3, 6.61 ERA). Colbert is 3-0 with a 4.41 ERA in 5 career starts against the Astros. September is Hamels' best month with ERA, averaged out in his career- 2.43 (closest month is 3.23). Carlos Lee is 2-for-11 (.182 avg) against Hamels in his career. Norris, a rookie, is 1-2 with a 9.24 ERA in 3 home starts this season. Norris has lost 3 consecutive starts.


Monday, 2:05pm. "Jay" Happ (10-4, 2.77 ERA) vs. Brad Moehler (8-10, 5.11 ERA). Happ on the road this season is 6-2 with a 1.88 ERA in 16 games. Happ is 4-4 with a 2.59 in 9 starts since the all star break. Moehler has a 3.68 ERA in his last 4 starts. At home this year, Moehler has a .313 batting average against. Shane Victorino, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard combined are 21-for-45 (.467 avg) with 4 homers and 10 RBI, against Moehler.


Pedro Feliz, in his career, against the Astros is a .320 hitter with a .916 OPS in 39 games played.

Ryan Madson's September ERA is 4.76, averaged out for his career. That is the worst of any month for Madson. It is more than 2 runs higher than his best month, August (2.70).

Houston closer Jose Valverde has thrown 10 straight scoreless appearances and has a 0.82 ERA since the all star break in 19 games.

Former Phillie Mike Bourn leads the National League in steals this season with 49 and has his batting average up 70 points over last year.

Chris Coste has a low .529 OPS since joining the Astros.

Team Runs Scored Phillies- 668
Team Runs Scored Astros- 544
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Comments

bronxbomber said…
please tell me Curt Schilling is joking.

www.buyingachampionship.com


ugh.

Cliff Lee will dominate the Astros tonight.

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