Skip to main content

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.

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

Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE.

Comments

Jay Floyd said…
Updated w/ correct game time for Sat. night.

Popular posts from this blog

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...