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NLDS Games 1 & 2 Preview: Rockies at Phillies


Wake up, pholks...it's been a full year, and it's time to live another October! The second MLB season begins in Philadelphia when the Rockies visit the Phillies to begin a best of five series, with the earliest game time on Wednesday. Read ahead for pitching match up details as well as other key notes from the series.


Wednesday, 2:37pm. Ubaldo Jimenez (15-12, 3.47 ERA) vs. Cliff Lee (7-4, 3.39 ERA with the Phillies).
Jimenez is 2-2 with a 5.06 ERA in his last 5 starts. Jimenez was 6-9 before the all star break and went 9-3 afterward. Pedro Feliz is 3-for-4 off of Jimenez with a HR and 3 RBI. Six Phillies have multiple hits off of Jimenez, none of which have more than 6 at bats.
Lee's focus must be to not allow any long balls. Since joining the Phillies, Lee has allowed homers in 4 games...in those games Lee is 0-4 with a 10.07 ERA. In his 8 homerless starts as a Phillie, Lee is 7-0 with a 1.20 ERA. It's obvious that when Lee is on, it's a lock for the Phils, and when he's not on, it's a lock for the opponent and balls go flying. Lee is 3-2 with a 2.52 ERA in 5 starts at Citizens Bank Park this season.

Thursday, 2:37pm. Aaron Cook (11-6, 4.16 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (10-11, 4.32 ERA).
In 9 games against the Phillies in his career, Cook is 1-5 with a 5.85 ERA. Cook went 1-3 with a 5.79 ERA in his last 5 starts this season. Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley combined are 25-for-67 (.373 avg) against Cook in their careers, with 2 HR and 16 RBI.
Hamels was 2-2 with a 4.31 ERA in his last 5 starts this season. Hamels started one game against the Rockies this year, the only regular season meeting with Colorado in his career and he allowed 7 runs in 3 2/3 innings. In 9 day game starts this year, Cole is 0-6 with a 5.44 ERA (compared to 23 night starts, where he is 10-5 with a 3.95 ERA). One more look at Cole's even month starts vs. his odd month starts...In April, June, August and October this year, Hamels is 1-8 with a 4.92 ERA. In May, July and September, Hamels is 9-3 with a 4.42 ERA.


Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta is a .167 hitter (25-for-150) in 46 road games this season. Iannetta is a .133 hitter in 9 games against the Phillies in his career.

Colorado rookie OF Carlos Gonzalez hit .320 with a .992 OPS in 62 games in the second half with 12 homers.
Jayson Werth hit .391 in 6 games vs. the Rockies in 2009 with a 1.243 OPS.

Brad Lidge, in his career against the Rockies, is 1-1 with 6 saves, 1 blown save and a 2.57 ERA in 21 appearances.

In 36 games vs. Colorado in his career, Matt Stairs is 36-for-92 (.391 avg) with 10 homers, 30 RBI and a 1.244 OPS.

Since the Rockies swept the Phillies out of the 2007 playoffs, the Phillies are 8-3 against Colorado, including 4-1 at Coors Field.

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My weekly Wednesday radio segment with The Shore Sports Report is preempted this week, as the time slot conflicts with Phillies playoff baseball.

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Comments

OBC said…
I hope the correct versions of Cole and Cliff show up for a few weeks.
Jay Floyd said…
Well, your wish is half granted.

I'll be at game 2 tomorrow. Keep it going, Phillies!

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