Series Preview: Phillies at Pirates, July 1-4

AP Photo- Chase Utley injured his thumb on this play, where he was tagged out by Brandon Phillips

As the Phillies head to Pittsburgh to begin a four game series against their Keystone State rivals, the Pirates, news has surfaced that Chase Utley, who hurt his thumb during Monday's game in Cincinnatti, will require surgery to repair a torn ligament. Several reports place Utley in New York City earlier today to have the surgery.

Reported first by MLB Network's Peter Gammons, the news is likely to force the Phillies to make a deal in order to fill the void during Utley's absense. Until that happens, the existing team will need to focus on the task at hand, and that is to win series, starting in Pittsburgh.

The current band of substitutes have been performing well for the Phillies as of late, with Utley, Placido Polanco and Carlos Ruiz on the shelf with injuries. Brian Schneider and Wilson Valdez have combined to go 10-for-32 (.313 avg) with 2 homers and 10 RBI over the past week. Those two and the rest of the Phillies will take on righty Daniel McCutchen in the series opener. Cole Hamels will take the mound for the Phillies on Thursday night at PNC Park.

Read ahead for info on the pitching match ups and plenty more details from this series.

Thursday, 7:05pm. Cole Hamels (6-6, 4.08 ERA) vs. Daniel McCutchen (0-3, 11.00 ERA). Hamels is 3-4 with a 5.40 ERA and a .302 batting avg. against in 8 road starts this season. Over his last 6 starts, Hamels has posted a 1-4 record and a 4.36 ERA. In 3 career starts against the Pirates, Hamels is 1-0 with a 3.79 ERA and 20 strike outs in 19 innings. Andrew McCutchen is 3-for-6 with a double and a homerun against Hamels. This will be Daniel McCutchen's 5th start of the season and will be just his 2nd appearance since April. Daniel McCutchen allowed 4 earned run in 6 innings against the Athletics in Oakland last week, taking the loss.

Friday, 7:05pm. Jamie Moyer (9-6, 4.30 ERA) vs. Ross Ohlendorf (0-6, 4.90 ERA). Moyer is 3-0 with a 1.95 ERA in his last 3 starts. In 15 career games against Pittsburgh, Moyer has a 5-6 record with a 5.24 ERA. In 9 road starts this season, Moyer is 5-4 with a 5.44 ERA. In 10 innings pitched at PNC Park, Moyer has allowed 8 earned runs (7.20 ERA). In 2 starts against the Phils, Ohlendorf has no decisions and a 3.75 ERA. In his last 6 starts, Ohlendorf is 0-3 with a 4.75 ERA. Jimmy Rollins is 3-for-5 with a double and 2 homers against Ohlendorf.

Saturday, 7:05pm. Kyle Kendrick (4-3, 4.88 ERA) vs. Paul Maholm (5-6, 3.98 ERA). In 3 career starts against the Pirates, Kendrick is 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA. On the road this season, Kendrick is 2-1 with a 3.68 ERA. Maholm has a 3-1 record with a 3.29 ERA in 6 career starts against the Phillies. In 7 starts at PNC Park this season, Maholm has posted a 3-4 record with a 4.71 ERA. Maholm is 2-2 with a 3.29 ERA over his last 7 starts. Jayson Werth is 5-for-15 (.333 avg) against Maholm with a double and a homer.

Sunday, 1:35pm. Joe Blanton (3-5, 6.19 ERA) vs. Jeff Karstens (2-3, 4.46 ERA). In 3 career starts against the Pirates, Blanton is 1-0 with a 1.77 ERA. Blanton is 2-0 with a 3.80 ERA over his last 3 starts. In 5 road starts this season, Blanton is 1-3 with a 7.80 ERA. In six home games this year, Karstens is 2-0 with a 4.30 ERA and a .239 batting average against. Karstens, a right-hander, has a .372 batting average against vs. lefty batters this season.

In 54 career games against the Pirates, Jimmy Rollins is a .339 hitter with 33 extra base hits. In 3 games at PNC Park last year, Rollins was 5-for-14 (.357 avg) with a double and 2 homers.

Raul Ibanez is a career .176 hitter in 11 games against Pittsburgh. Ibanez is batting .229 in 40 road games this year.

Andrew McCutchen has 3 homers in 8 games played against the Phillies. In 34 home games this season, McCutchen is batting .342.

Andy Laroche is batting .192 in 27 home games this season. Against Hamels, Kendrick and Blanton, Laroche is a combined 2-for-17 (.118 avg).

Phillies team batting average- .259

Pirates team batting average- .237

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