Since the Rockies swept the Phillies out of the 2007 playoffs, Philadelphia has been relentless against their new rival. Last October, the phrase "Get me to the plate, boys" was born, as Ryan Howard ended the Rockies' season. This week, the Phillies return to Colorado for the first time since then.
The Phillies also won both regular season series against the Rockies last year, winning 2 of 3 in both Philadelphia and Denver. In addition, the Phils won both regular season series in 2008. Overall, the Phils have won 5 straight series against Colorado.
This week's clash of NL contenders has the third place Rockies (15-16) hosting the first place Phillies (19-12) for a 3 games series.
Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups and other key notes from this series.
Monday, 8:40pm. Kyle Kendrick (1-1, 5.87 ERA) vs. Greg Smith (1-2, 6.35 ERA). Kendrick, in 3 road starts this year, has no decisions and a 5.29 ERA. In 4 regular season starts against Colorado, Kendrick is 1-1 with a 5.91 ERA. Todd Helton is 4-for-9 (.444 avg) with a double and 3 walks against Kendrick. In 3 home starts this year, Smith is 1-2 with an 8.31 ERA and a .346 batting average against. Chase Utley is 3-for-3 with a double and a triple against Smith in his career. In 16 games at Coors Field, Smith has a 3-8 record with a 4.83 ERA.
Tuesday, 8:40pm. Roy Halladay (6-1, 1.45 ERA) vs. Aaron Cook (1-3, 6.03 ERA). Halladay has allowed one HR in each of two different starts...in his 5 starts, when he did NOT allow a HR, his ERA is 0.44. Halladay has previously faced the Rockies just once...it was a complete game shutout on June 7th, 2002. On the road this season, Halladay is 3-1 with a 1.69 ERA. In 9 games against the Phils, Cook is 1-5 with a 5.85 ERA. Cook has a 4.56 ERA in 103 career appearances at Coors Field. Shane Victorino is 1-for-12 (.083 avg) in his career against Cook. Chase Utley is 8-for-21 (.381 avg) with a homer and 11 RBI against Cook.
Wednesday, 3:10pm. Jamie Moyer (4-2, 4.38 ERA) vs. Esmil Rogers (0-1, 6.39 ERA). Fresh off becoming the oldest Major Leaguer in history to throw a complete game shutout, Moyer will face Colorado, against whom he has a career record of 1-5 and a 6.16 ERA. In 2 starts at Coors Field, Moyer is 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA. Ryan Spilborghs is 6-for-11 (.545 avg) with 2 homers against Moyer. Rogers will be making just his 4th Major League start. Rogers is being used in the starting rotation as the Rockies' staff has been plagued with injuries (Jason Hammel, Jorge De La Rosa & Jeff Francis are all on the DL).
Ryan Spilborghs, who is hitting .224 this season, is a career .420 hitter in 19 games against the Phillies with 3 homers and 12 RBI.
Carlos Gonzalez, who the Phillies had trouble containing in the playoffs last season, is expected to be out of the lineup for the first 2 games of this series, as his uncle passed away and Gonzalez is attending the services in Venezuela.
Jayson Werth, who was named National League player of the week today, is third in the NL in batting, with a .349 avg. Werth is a career .310 hitter with 5 homeruns in 35 games against the Rockies. Werth hit .357 with 2 homeruns and 4 RBI in 4 games against the Rockies in the NLDS last season.
Placido Polanco is a .348 career hitter with 5 homers in 39 games against the Rockies. At Coors Field Polanco is a .377 hitter with 3 homeruns in 17 games.
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The Phillies also won both regular season series against the Rockies last year, winning 2 of 3 in both Philadelphia and Denver. In addition, the Phils won both regular season series in 2008. Overall, the Phils have won 5 straight series against Colorado.
This week's clash of NL contenders has the third place Rockies (15-16) hosting the first place Phillies (19-12) for a 3 games series.
Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups and other key notes from this series.
Monday, 8:40pm. Kyle Kendrick (1-1, 5.87 ERA) vs. Greg Smith (1-2, 6.35 ERA). Kendrick, in 3 road starts this year, has no decisions and a 5.29 ERA. In 4 regular season starts against Colorado, Kendrick is 1-1 with a 5.91 ERA. Todd Helton is 4-for-9 (.444 avg) with a double and 3 walks against Kendrick. In 3 home starts this year, Smith is 1-2 with an 8.31 ERA and a .346 batting average against. Chase Utley is 3-for-3 with a double and a triple against Smith in his career. In 16 games at Coors Field, Smith has a 3-8 record with a 4.83 ERA.
Tuesday, 8:40pm. Roy Halladay (6-1, 1.45 ERA) vs. Aaron Cook (1-3, 6.03 ERA). Halladay has allowed one HR in each of two different starts...in his 5 starts, when he did NOT allow a HR, his ERA is 0.44. Halladay has previously faced the Rockies just once...it was a complete game shutout on June 7th, 2002. On the road this season, Halladay is 3-1 with a 1.69 ERA. In 9 games against the Phils, Cook is 1-5 with a 5.85 ERA. Cook has a 4.56 ERA in 103 career appearances at Coors Field. Shane Victorino is 1-for-12 (.083 avg) in his career against Cook. Chase Utley is 8-for-21 (.381 avg) with a homer and 11 RBI against Cook.
Wednesday, 3:10pm. Jamie Moyer (4-2, 4.38 ERA) vs. Esmil Rogers (0-1, 6.39 ERA). Fresh off becoming the oldest Major Leaguer in history to throw a complete game shutout, Moyer will face Colorado, against whom he has a career record of 1-5 and a 6.16 ERA. In 2 starts at Coors Field, Moyer is 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA. Ryan Spilborghs is 6-for-11 (.545 avg) with 2 homers against Moyer. Rogers will be making just his 4th Major League start. Rogers is being used in the starting rotation as the Rockies' staff has been plagued with injuries (Jason Hammel, Jorge De La Rosa & Jeff Francis are all on the DL).
Ryan Spilborghs, who is hitting .224 this season, is a career .420 hitter in 19 games against the Phillies with 3 homers and 12 RBI.
Carlos Gonzalez, who the Phillies had trouble containing in the playoffs last season, is expected to be out of the lineup for the first 2 games of this series, as his uncle passed away and Gonzalez is attending the services in Venezuela.
Jayson Werth, who was named National League player of the week today, is third in the NL in batting, with a .349 avg. Werth is a career .310 hitter with 5 homeruns in 35 games against the Rockies. Werth hit .357 with 2 homeruns and 4 RBI in 4 games against the Rockies in the NLDS last season.
Placido Polanco is a .348 career hitter with 5 homers in 39 games against the Rockies. At Coors Field Polanco is a .377 hitter with 3 homeruns in 17 games.
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