Boston and Philadelphia will meet for the second time this season, as inter-league play sparks back up this weekend. The Phillies (31-27) are in Boston to face the Red Sox (35-27) in a 3-game series. The Red Sox won 2 of the 3 meeting in Philadelphia last month. The Red Sox won 2 of 3 against the Phillies last season also.
Jamie Moyer gets the assignment in game 1 to attempt to help dig the Phillies out of their recent struggles, as they've lost 14 of their past 21 match ups. Boston will counter with John Lackey, who boasts a 12-5 record and 2.77 ERA in inter-league play, during his career.
The Phillies are just 9-18 (.333 winning pct.) against American League teams since they won the World Series against the Rays in 2008.
Loads of details on the pitching match ups and more lie ahead.
Friday, 7:10pm. Jamie Moyer (6-5, 3.98 ERA) vs. John Lackey (6-3, 4.72 ERA). In 23 career games against Boston, Moyer has a 6-12 record with a 6.57 ERA. In 26 career games at Fenway Park, Moyer, a former Red Sox pitcher, is 7-7 with a 5.43 ERA. Lefty hitters are batting .175 against Moyer this season. In his last 6 starts, Moyer has a 2.76 ERA and has allowed homeruns in just one of those starts. David Ortiz is 13-for-36 (.361 avg) against Moyer...12 of those hits are of the extra base variety. In two career starts against the Phillies, Lackey is 1-1 with a 3.97 ERA. Lackey is 4-1 with a 5.60 ERA and a .308 batting avg. against in 6 starts at Fenway Park this year. Raul Ibanez is 19-for-51 (.373 avg) with 4 doubles in his career against Lackey.
Saturday, 4:10pm. Joe Blanton (1-4, 6.07 ERA) vs. Daisuke Matsuzaka (5-2, 4.59 ERA). Blanton has a 6.87 in 3 road starts this season. In 9 career starts against Boston, Blanton is 3-2 with a 3.61 ERA. Mike Cameron is 4-for-9 (.444 avg) with 3 homers against Blanton. Kevin Youkilis is 7-for-21 (.333 avg) with a triple and a HR against Blanton. Matsuzaka pitched eight 1-hit innings against the Phillies on May 22nd. In 4 home starts this year, Matsuzaka is 3-1 with a 4.56 ERA. Raul Ibanez is the only Phillie with a homerun in his career against Matsuzaka.
Sunday, 1:35pm. Cole Hamels (5-5, 3.98 ERA) vs. Tim Wakefield (2-4, 5.48 ERA). In 2 career starts against Boston, Hamels is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA and a .196 batting avg. against. Hamels has a 5.58 ERA in 6 road starts this season. Marco Scutaro is 1-for-10 vs. Hamels in his career. Wakefield shut out the Phillies for 8 innings on May 23rd. Wakefield has an 8.47 ERA in 3 starts since he last saw the Phils. In 7 home games this season, Wakefield has posted a 0-3 record with a 7.29 ERA. Jayson Werth is 5-for-11 (.455 avg) with a HR in his career against Wakefield. Placido Polanco is 1-for-15 (.067 avg) against Wakefield in his career.
In 17 career games vs. the Red Sox, Jayson Werth is 17-for-54 (.315 avg) with 3 homeruns. Werth is batting .073 in his last 12 games.
Placido Polanco is a .352 hitter in 22 road games this season. Polanco's OPS in 260 points higher in day games than it is in night games.
Mike Cameron against Brad Lidge, Jose Contreras and Chad Durbin is a combined 1-for-21 (.048 avg) in his career.
In 24 home games this season, David Ortiz is batting .238.
Friday, 7:10pm. Jamie Moyer (6-5, 3.98 ERA) vs. John Lackey (6-3, 4.72 ERA). In 23 career games against Boston, Moyer has a 6-12 record with a 6.57 ERA. In 26 career games at Fenway Park, Moyer, a former Red Sox pitcher, is 7-7 with a 5.43 ERA. Lefty hitters are batting .175 against Moyer this season. In his last 6 starts, Moyer has a 2.76 ERA and has allowed homeruns in just one of those starts. David Ortiz is 13-for-36 (.361 avg) against Moyer...12 of those hits are of the extra base variety. In two career starts against the Phillies, Lackey is 1-1 with a 3.97 ERA. Lackey is 4-1 with a 5.60 ERA and a .308 batting avg. against in 6 starts at Fenway Park this year. Raul Ibanez is 19-for-51 (.373 avg) with 4 doubles in his career against Lackey.
Saturday, 4:10pm. Joe Blanton (1-4, 6.07 ERA) vs. Daisuke Matsuzaka (5-2, 4.59 ERA). Blanton has a 6.87 in 3 road starts this season. In 9 career starts against Boston, Blanton is 3-2 with a 3.61 ERA. Mike Cameron is 4-for-9 (.444 avg) with 3 homers against Blanton. Kevin Youkilis is 7-for-21 (.333 avg) with a triple and a HR against Blanton. Matsuzaka pitched eight 1-hit innings against the Phillies on May 22nd. In 4 home starts this year, Matsuzaka is 3-1 with a 4.56 ERA. Raul Ibanez is the only Phillie with a homerun in his career against Matsuzaka.
Sunday, 1:35pm. Cole Hamels (5-5, 3.98 ERA) vs. Tim Wakefield (2-4, 5.48 ERA). In 2 career starts against Boston, Hamels is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA and a .196 batting avg. against. Hamels has a 5.58 ERA in 6 road starts this season. Marco Scutaro is 1-for-10 vs. Hamels in his career. Wakefield shut out the Phillies for 8 innings on May 23rd. Wakefield has an 8.47 ERA in 3 starts since he last saw the Phils. In 7 home games this season, Wakefield has posted a 0-3 record with a 7.29 ERA. Jayson Werth is 5-for-11 (.455 avg) with a HR in his career against Wakefield. Placido Polanco is 1-for-15 (.067 avg) against Wakefield in his career.
In 17 career games vs. the Red Sox, Jayson Werth is 17-for-54 (.315 avg) with 3 homeruns. Werth is batting .073 in his last 12 games.
Placido Polanco is a .352 hitter in 22 road games this season. Polanco's OPS in 260 points higher in day games than it is in night games.
Mike Cameron against Brad Lidge, Jose Contreras and Chad Durbin is a combined 1-for-21 (.048 avg) in his career.
In 24 home games this season, David Ortiz is batting .238.
Jonathan Papelbon, who has been on bereavement leave, is expected to be activated for this series.
Phillies team batting average- .258
Red Sox team batting average- .271
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