Series Preview: Phillies @ D-Backs 4/23-4/25

The Phillies' (10-5) road trip continues, as they travel to Arizona for 3 games against the DiamondBacks (6-9). Arizona is struggling, as they won just one game over their last seven outings. Their relievers have a 12.42 ERA in that span. The first place Phillies will face two familiar pitchers, Kris Benson and Rodrigo Lopez, who have both been in the Phils' system in recent years, as well as a manager who is familiar, AJ Hinch, who once caught for the Phillies. The Phillies hope to build on recent strong starting pitching that has posted a 0.58 ERA in the past 4 games.

Read ahead for information on pitching matchups and more.

Friday, 9:40pm. Cole Hamels (2-1, 3.86 ERA) vs. Kris Benson (0-1, 3.00). Hamels is 2-0 in 3 starts against Arizona with a 1.74 ERA. In 13 2/3 innings pitched at Chase Field, Arizona batters have a .146 batting avg. against Colbert. Mark Reynolds is 0-for-6 in his career against Hamels. Benson is 5-0 with a 3.22 ERA in 9 career starts against Philadelphia. Prior to his season debut with Arizona this season, Benson appeared in 8 games last season for the Rangers. Before that, he had not pitched in the Majors since 2006, after suffering a torn rotator cuff.

Saturday, 8:10pm. Nelson Figueroa (1-1, 2.45) vs. Ian Kennedy (0-1, 5.65 ERA). Figueroa will make his first start for the Phillies 2001. Figueroa, in 4 games against the D-Backs, is 0-2 with an 8.68 ERA. Mark Reynolds is 2-for-2 with 2 homers against Figueroa. The righty Kennedy was once a Yankees prospect who pitched for the Trenton Thunder. Kennedy, a rookie, has just 3 starts in his Major League career.

Sunday, 4:10pm. Kyle Kendrick (0-0, 7.24 ERA) vs. Rodrigo Lopez (1-0, 3.50 ERA). Kendrick threw 8 shut out innings in his last outing against the Braves, after giving up 6 earned runs in 1 2/3 innings to the Nationals the previous week. In 2 games against Arizona, Kendrick has no decisions and a 5.11 ERA. In 7 games for the Phillies last season, Lopez was 3-1 with a 5.77 ERA. Ryan Howard is 3-for-5 off of Lopez with a homerun. Juan Castro is 4-for-9 (.444 avg) with 2 doubles against Lopez.

Second baseman Kelly Johnson is a career .245 hitter in 50 games against the Phillies with 7 homers. He is 3-for-17 (.176 avg) in his career against Hamels.

Mark Reynolds is batting .231 in 8 home games this year with a .412 on-base % (6 hits, 7 walks).

Chase Utley is a .298 hitter with 7 homeruns in 32 career games against Arizona. In 17 games at Chase Field, the man by the same name only has a .220 batting average.

Through 15 games this season, Raul Ibanez is batting .200 with no homers and 7 RBI. Through 15 games last season, Ibanez had a .339 avg, with 5 homers and 11 RBI.

Since his first game batting leadoff, when he had 4 hits in 5 at bats and 3 runs scored, Shane Victorino is 5-for-30 (.167 avg) with 3 runs scored.

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