For the first time in a long while, the NL East rivalry between the Metropolitans (13-9) and Phillies (12-9) is exciting. Unsure if they are contenders or pretenders, New York, riding a 7 game win streak, will visit the defending National League champs as the leader in the division. The Phillies have spent most of the first month of the season on the road, having played just 6 home games, in which they are 3-3. The Metropolitans have spent much of the season at home, to this point, and have played just 6 games on the road, in which they are 2-4.
Read ahead for pitching match ups, key stats and other information on this series.
Friday, 7:05pm. Jonathan Niese (0-1, 3.68 ERA) vs. Kyle Kendrick (0-0, 7.71 ERA). Niese, in 12 career games, has a .307 batting average against. In 3 career road games, Niese has a 6.60 ERA. In 5 career games against the Metropolitans, Kendrick is 2-1 with a 2.63 ERA. David Wright is just 2-for-13 (.154 avg) against Kendrick. In 33 games at Citizens Bank Park, Kendrick is 14-6 with a 4.53 ERA.
Saturday, 3:10pm. Mike Pelfrey (4-0, 0.69) vs. Roy Halladay (4-1, 1.80 ERA). Pelfrey has faced the Phillies 9 times in his career and has posted a 4-2 record with a 4.82 ERA. Pelfrey has appeared in 4 games at Citizens Bank Park and has posted a 1-1 record and a 7.17 ERA there. Greg Dobbs is 7-for-13 (.538 avg) against Pelfrey with a double and a HR. Halladay has faced the Metropolitans 4 times in his career and has a 2-2 record with a 5.55 ERA in those games. Former teammate Rod Barajas is 0-for-9 in his career against Halladay.
Sunday, 8:05pm. Johan Santana (3-1, 2.08 ERA) vs. Jamie Moyer (2-2, 5.25 ERA). Santana has made 4 career starts at Citizens Bank Park...in those games he is 1-1 with a 3.21 ERA. In the last four seasons, Santana is undefeated in his first start of May with a 0.72 ERA. Placido Polanco is 10-for-26 (.385 avg) vs. Santana in his career. Shane Victorino is 2-for-22 (.091 avg) in his career against Santana. Moyer was 1-1 with a 6.91 ERA in 5 starts against the Metropolitans last season. Gary Matthews Jr. is 7-for-23 (.304 avg) with 3 doubles and 2 homers against Moyer.
The Phillies won 12 of 18 meetings with the Metropolitans last year.
In 9 games at Citizens Bank Park last year, David Wright went 6-for-34 (.176 avg) with 9 strike outs. Wright's batting average was 36 points lower in day games last year than it was in night games.
Francisco Rodriguez has 8 saves and has never allowed a run to the Phillies in 10 appearances against them.
Placido Polanco is a career .332 hitter with 13 homers in 93 games at Citizens Bank Park.
Brad Lidge will be activated from the disabled list for this series. Antonio Bastardo has been optioned to Triple A, in order to make room on the active roster. Lidge is 2-1 with 13 saves and a 3.09 ERA in 30 appearances against the Metropolitans.
Ryan Howard hit .208 (15-for-72) against the Metropolitans last season in 18 games.
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Read ahead for pitching match ups, key stats and other information on this series.
Friday, 7:05pm. Jonathan Niese (0-1, 3.68 ERA) vs. Kyle Kendrick (0-0, 7.71 ERA). Niese, in 12 career games, has a .307 batting average against. In 3 career road games, Niese has a 6.60 ERA. In 5 career games against the Metropolitans, Kendrick is 2-1 with a 2.63 ERA. David Wright is just 2-for-13 (.154 avg) against Kendrick. In 33 games at Citizens Bank Park, Kendrick is 14-6 with a 4.53 ERA.
Saturday, 3:10pm. Mike Pelfrey (4-0, 0.69) vs. Roy Halladay (4-1, 1.80 ERA). Pelfrey has faced the Phillies 9 times in his career and has posted a 4-2 record with a 4.82 ERA. Pelfrey has appeared in 4 games at Citizens Bank Park and has posted a 1-1 record and a 7.17 ERA there. Greg Dobbs is 7-for-13 (.538 avg) against Pelfrey with a double and a HR. Halladay has faced the Metropolitans 4 times in his career and has a 2-2 record with a 5.55 ERA in those games. Former teammate Rod Barajas is 0-for-9 in his career against Halladay.
Sunday, 8:05pm. Johan Santana (3-1, 2.08 ERA) vs. Jamie Moyer (2-2, 5.25 ERA). Santana has made 4 career starts at Citizens Bank Park...in those games he is 1-1 with a 3.21 ERA. In the last four seasons, Santana is undefeated in his first start of May with a 0.72 ERA. Placido Polanco is 10-for-26 (.385 avg) vs. Santana in his career. Shane Victorino is 2-for-22 (.091 avg) in his career against Santana. Moyer was 1-1 with a 6.91 ERA in 5 starts against the Metropolitans last season. Gary Matthews Jr. is 7-for-23 (.304 avg) with 3 doubles and 2 homers against Moyer.
The Phillies won 12 of 18 meetings with the Metropolitans last year.
In 9 games at Citizens Bank Park last year, David Wright went 6-for-34 (.176 avg) with 9 strike outs. Wright's batting average was 36 points lower in day games last year than it was in night games.
Francisco Rodriguez has 8 saves and has never allowed a run to the Phillies in 10 appearances against them.
Placido Polanco is a career .332 hitter with 13 homers in 93 games at Citizens Bank Park.
Brad Lidge will be activated from the disabled list for this series. Antonio Bastardo has been optioned to Triple A, in order to make room on the active roster. Lidge is 2-1 with 13 saves and a 3.09 ERA in 30 appearances against the Metropolitans.
Ryan Howard hit .208 (15-for-72) against the Metropolitans last season in 18 games.
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Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE.
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