Back at home, where they've won 11 in a row, the Phillies (60-48) hope to gain ground in the standings as they face the rival Metropolitans (54-54) in a 3-game series. Without injured All-stars Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Shane Victorino, Philadelphia hasn't shown signs of slowing down as they've closed the gap on the NL East leading Braves to 2 games, with a series sweep at Florida this week.
Philadelphia will send Joe Blanton to the mound in the series opener. New York will counter with left-hander Jonathan Niese.
The last time these two teams met, from May 25th-27th, Metropolitans pitchers shut out the Phillies over 3 games, sweeping the series.
Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups and plenty more information on this series.
Friday, 7:35pm. Jonathan Niese (7-5, 3.78 ERA) vs. Joe Blanton (4-6, 5.86 ERA). In his last 5 starts, Niese is 1-3 with a 4.20 ERA. In 8 road starts this season, Niese has posted a 3-2 record with a 3.91 ERA. In 5 career starts against the Metropolitans, Blanton has a 2-1 record with a 2.67 ERA. Opponents are batting .301 against Blanton in 17 starts this year. Jose Reyes, David Wright and Carlos Beltran are a combined 6-for-34 (.176 avg) against Blanton.
Saturday, 7:05p. Johan Santana (8-6, 3.20 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (7-7, 3.56 ERA). In Santana's last outing against the Phillies, he allowed 10 earned runs in 3 2/3 innings. In 12 road starts this season, Santana is 2-3 with a 2.98 ERA. Santana has a 7.81 ERA over his last 2 starts. Raul Ibanez is 15-for-42 (.357 avg) with 2 homers against Santana in his career. In 10 career starts against the Metropolitans, Hamels is 2-5 with a 3.98 ERA. In his last 5 starts, Hamels is 1-0 with a 2.07 ERA.
Sunday, 1:35pm. RA Dickey (7-4, 2.36 ERA) vs. Roy Halladay (13-8, 2.17 ERA). In his last 5 starts, Dickey has posted a 1-2 record with a 1.59 ERA. In 10 road starts this season, Dickey is 3-3 with a 2.83 ERA. New Phillie Mike Sweeney is 3-for-6 in his career against Dickey. In his last 6 starts, Halladay is 4-1 with a 1.88 ERA. In 13 home starts this season, Halladay is 8-4 with a 1.65 ERA. In his last 5 starts at Citizens Bank Park, Halladay is 4-0 with a 0.43 ERA. Carlos Beltran is 11-for-27 (.407 avg) against Halladay in his career.
David Wright is a .265 hitter in 99 career games against the Phillies. Wright is hitting .331 at home this season, while his batting average is .268 on the road.
Jose Reyes has hit safely in 15 of his last 16 games. Reyes at home this year has a .324 batting average, while his average on the road is .238.
New York closer Francisco Rodriguez has not allowed a run in 12 career outings against the Phillies.
In 30 career games against the Metropolitans, Raul Ibanez is a .300 hitter. In 18 games since the All-star break, Ibanez has a .415 batting average.
Ross Gload is batting .391 in 15 games played since the All-star break. His on base % during that stretch is .533.
Philadelphia will send Joe Blanton to the mound in the series opener. New York will counter with left-hander Jonathan Niese.
The last time these two teams met, from May 25th-27th, Metropolitans pitchers shut out the Phillies over 3 games, sweeping the series.
Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups and plenty more information on this series.
Friday, 7:35pm. Jonathan Niese (7-5, 3.78 ERA) vs. Joe Blanton (4-6, 5.86 ERA). In his last 5 starts, Niese is 1-3 with a 4.20 ERA. In 8 road starts this season, Niese has posted a 3-2 record with a 3.91 ERA. In 5 career starts against the Metropolitans, Blanton has a 2-1 record with a 2.67 ERA. Opponents are batting .301 against Blanton in 17 starts this year. Jose Reyes, David Wright and Carlos Beltran are a combined 6-for-34 (.176 avg) against Blanton.
Saturday, 7:05p. Johan Santana (8-6, 3.20 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (7-7, 3.56 ERA). In Santana's last outing against the Phillies, he allowed 10 earned runs in 3 2/3 innings. In 12 road starts this season, Santana is 2-3 with a 2.98 ERA. Santana has a 7.81 ERA over his last 2 starts. Raul Ibanez is 15-for-42 (.357 avg) with 2 homers against Santana in his career. In 10 career starts against the Metropolitans, Hamels is 2-5 with a 3.98 ERA. In his last 5 starts, Hamels is 1-0 with a 2.07 ERA.
Sunday, 1:35pm. RA Dickey (7-4, 2.36 ERA) vs. Roy Halladay (13-8, 2.17 ERA). In his last 5 starts, Dickey has posted a 1-2 record with a 1.59 ERA. In 10 road starts this season, Dickey is 3-3 with a 2.83 ERA. New Phillie Mike Sweeney is 3-for-6 in his career against Dickey. In his last 6 starts, Halladay is 4-1 with a 1.88 ERA. In 13 home starts this season, Halladay is 8-4 with a 1.65 ERA. In his last 5 starts at Citizens Bank Park, Halladay is 4-0 with a 0.43 ERA. Carlos Beltran is 11-for-27 (.407 avg) against Halladay in his career.
David Wright is a .265 hitter in 99 career games against the Phillies. Wright is hitting .331 at home this season, while his batting average is .268 on the road.
Jose Reyes has hit safely in 15 of his last 16 games. Reyes at home this year has a .324 batting average, while his average on the road is .238.
New York closer Francisco Rodriguez has not allowed a run in 12 career outings against the Phillies.
In 30 career games against the Metropolitans, Raul Ibanez is a .300 hitter. In 18 games since the All-star break, Ibanez has a .415 batting average.
Ross Gload is batting .391 in 15 games played since the All-star break. His on base % during that stretch is .533.
Carlos Ruiz went 8-for-15 (.533 avg) in this week's series in Florida. The Phillies swept the series with Ruiz's help, as he slugged 3 doubles, 2 homeruns and drove in 6 runs in the 3-game series.
Metropolitans team batting avg.- .251
Phillies team batting avg.- .260
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