Weekend Series Preview: Metropolitans at Phillies, 9/11-9/13

The Metropolitans of New York (62-78) come to Philadelphia to face the Phillies (79-59) in a four game series beginning tonight. Read on for details on the pitching match ups and other key notes from this division rivalry.

Friday, 7:05pm. Nelson Figueroa (2-4, 4.74 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (8-9, 4.32 ERA). Figueroa, a former Phillie, has a 3.00 ERA over his last three starts, with a 1-2 record. Colbert is 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA and .457 batting average against in 2 starts against NYM this season. Hamels has a 2.65 ERA in 15 career starts in September. David Wright against Cole Hamels- 8-for-20 (.400 avg) with a homer and 3 RBI.

Saturday, 4:10pm. Mike Pelfrey (10-10, 4.83 ERA) vs. Jamie Moyer (12-9, 4.98 ERA). Pelfrey is 2-2 in his last 4 starts with a 5.32 ERA. In his career against the Phillies, Pelfrey is 4-2 with a 3.88 ERA in 8 games. Pelfrey's road ERA in 6.55 in 2009. Moyer is once again taking "Jay" Happ's turn in the starting rotation, while Happ deals with an oblique strain. Moyer's ERA in his last 5 games is 1.84. Moyer is 8-5 with a 3.55 ERA in 21 games in his career against the Metropolitans.

Sunday, 1:05pm. John Maine (5-4, 4.52 ERA) vs. Kyle Kendrick (unofficially). Maine will be making his return from the disabled list and is expected to have a low 60-pitch limit. It will be Maine's first games since June 6th. Maine is 1-3 with a 6.34 ERA in 6 road starts this season. Jimmy Rollins is a .160 hitter (4-for-25) against John Maine. Kendrick is 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA in 4 ML games pitched this year. In 4 career games against the Metropolitans, KK is 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA.

Sunday. 8:05pm. Tim Redding (2-5, 5.78 ERA) vs. Pedro Martinez (4-0, 3.64 ERA). Redding has a 1-1 record and a 3.47 ERA in his last 4 games. Redding threw 5 scoreless innings against the Phillies on 8/22 in New York. The Metropolitans have won only one of the past 11 games that Redding has pitched in. The Phillies have won all 6 of Pedro Martinez's starts this season. In 7 career starts at Citizens Bank Park, Pedro is 2-1 with a 5.34 ERA.

Angel Pagan has hit safely in 22 of his last 24 games played, batting .352 during that streak. He has raised his season batting avg. 32 points since the start of the last series the Metropolitans and Phillies played against each other.

Ryan Howard is batting .300 (60-for-200) since the all star break. Howard is batting just .207 (12-for-58) against the Metropolitans in 14 games this season.

Carlos Ruiz is batting .037 (1-for-27) with a homerun and 4 RBI against the Metropolitans this season.

Raul Ibanez is hitting .071 (2-for-28) in his last 9 home games with a triple and 3 runs scored.

Team batting average, Metropolitans- .269
Team batting average, Phillies- .257

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

Be sure to follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE!

Sunday School: Phillies History Lesson 73

Danny Ozark was the Phillies' manager from 1973-1979. During his tenure as the team's general, Ozark led Philadelphia to three straight division titles. In his playing days, Ozark was a first baseman, who was a career minor leaguer in the Dodgers system. When Ozark took over the team in 1973, the Phillies were fresh off 5 consecutive losing seasons and 3 straight last place finishes. During his first season in charge, the Phillies would again finish in last place, 20 games under .500, but as his core of young talent, like Mike Schmidt and Larry Bowa, developed, the Phillies' win totals rose. Within 2 years, the Phillies were above .500 and in the playoff hunt until late in the season and the most successful era of Phillies history was about to begin. By 1976, the Phillies were headed to the post-season for the first time since 1950. The Phils would enjoy a 10-game lead over their nearest division rival at the midway point of the season. Despite a lul, which saw their lead d...

PhoulBallz Interview: First round pick Bryson Stott

Bryson Stott, image- Jay Floyd Shortstop Bryson Stott , the Phillies' first round draft selection this year, has enjoyed a successful initial pro campaign. En route to being recognized as an All-Star for the Class A short-season Williamsport Crosscutters the 21-year-old UNLV product has tallied a .295 average with six home runs and 25 RBI in 45 minor league contests. Last week I spoke with the lefty hitting Stott to discuss his transition to professional baseball, joining the Phillies organization and plenty more. Read ahead for that interview. -Obviously, your performance and the production on the field is going well, but how do you feel you have adapted to the pro life? It feels good. You hear about the everyday grind, but you don't really believe it till you feel it. I would say that's the difference between college and the pros, is you're not practicing, you're playing games every day. I would say that's the biggest difference. But I...

Velasquez shut down, Eflin on deck?

Eflin with Reading in 2015, image- Jay Floyd Following Vincent Velasquez leaving his start after just two pitches for the Phillies on Wednesday, righty prospect Zach Eflin was pulled from his start for Triple-A Lehigh Valley at Gwinnett. The 22-year-old sports a 5-1 record with a 3.14 ERA and a .210 batting average against in 10 starts for the IronPigs this season. He could take the place of Velasquez if he is required to miss any additional time. Initial word on Velasquez after he threw two fastballs that clocked in the 86-87 MPH range (considerably slower than the 94 MPH he averages) and was swiftly pulled from his outing, is that he has a biceps strain. He'll be further evaluated in the coming days. Prior to the regular season, Eflin got a taste of competing against big leaguers when he was charged with 12 runs (nine earned) on 11 hits while striking out two and walking one with a wild pitch in three innings of work in an intrasquad exhibition that pitted the Phils...

PhoulBallz.com

Search This Blog