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Series Preview: Phillies at Marlins, 9/22-9/23


The Phillies (87-61) are in Florida for a three game series with the second place (tied, 80-70) Marlins. The Phillies' magic number stands at 6 with 6 games against the Marlins remaining among their 14 games left in the season. Read on for details on pitching match ups as well as other key notes on this series.


Tuesday, 4:10pm. Joe Blanton (10-7, 3.97 ERA) vs. Josh Johnson (15-4, 3.01 ERA). Blanton in his career against Florida is 3-1 with a 3.42 ERA in 4 starts. Nick Johnson is 7-for-13 (.538 avg) against Blanton with 1 HR and 3 RBI and 3 walks. Josh Johnson is 4-1 in his career against Philadelphia with a 3.38 ERA in 9 games. At home this season, Josh Johnson is 7-2 with a 2.45 ERA in 15 starts. In 14 starts against NL East opponents this season, Josh Johnson is 7-1 with a 3.11 ERA and 80 K's in 86 2/3 innings pitched.

Tuesday, after first game. Jamie Moyer (12-9, 5.05 ERA) vs. Anibal Sanchez (2-7, 4.50 ERA). Moyer is 13-3 with a 2.87 ERA in 16 games against the Marlins in his career. Moyer is 8-0 with a 1.37 ERA in 8 starts at Land Shark Stadium. Cody Ross is 6-for-11 (.545 avg) this season off of Moyer, but is only 9-for-37 (.243 avg) off of Moyer in his career. Sanchez has only won once since April 16th (11 starts). Ryan Howard is 4-for-8 off of Sanchez with a HR and 5 walks.

Wednesday, 7:10pm. Cole Hamels (10-9, 4.07 ERA) vs. Rick Vandenhurk (2-2, 4.24 ERA). Colbert is 2-5 in 10 career starts against the Marlins with a 4.19 ERA. In his last 5 starts, Hamels is 3-1 with a 1.43 ERA. Cole's record in even numbered months this season- 1-7 (w/ 4.76 ERA). His record in odd numbered months this season is 9-2 (w/ 3.50 ERA). Vandenhurk is 0-1 with a 4.35 ERA over his last 4 starts.


Pedro Feliz is batting .226 since the all star break and is in the midst of a 25-for-132 slump (.189 avg). In 11 games vs. the Marlins this season, Feliz is batting .279 (12-for-43) with a homer and 7 RBI.

Chase Utley has more RBI against the Marlins (76) than he does against any other opponent. In 92 career games against Florida, Utley has a .316 avg (108-for-342) and a .967 OPS.

In 11 games against the Phillies this season, Hanley Ramirez is batting .354 (17-for-48) with no HR. Ramirez hit 6 homers against the Phillies in 2007 (18 games), but has only hit one against them since then (26 games).

Phillies team ERA- 4.08
Marlins team ERA- 4.33
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Comments

Zoe Chastain said…
A split to start the series isn't the end of the world. Magic number down to 5 after the double header and time is on our side.

Starting pitching was good in the double header with Fat Joe and Old Man Jamie doing the job, but the bats just went quiet in the second one.

Oh well, hopefully Cole can get it done tonight.

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