Series Preview: Metropolitans at Phillies, 9/24-9/26

With their magic number to clinch a team record 4th straight division title sitting at 4, the Phillies (92-61) enter the weekend needing some help from the Nationals, who are playing the Braves, to clinch at home. The Phils will be facing the Metropolitans (74-78), who visit Citizens Bank Park for a 3-games series starting Friday night.

New York will send right-hander R.A. Dickey to the mound in game 1 of the series. Dickey threw a one-hitter against the Phillies last month at Citi Field. The Phillies will counter with Joe Blanton, who has notched 8 strike outs in each of his last 2 outings.

Injured short stop Jimmy Rollins, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury in recent weeks, faced live pitching in a simulated game on Thursday and could return to action this weekend.

The Phillies have won 8 of 15 meetings with the Metropolitans this season. Read ahead for detail on the pitching match ups for this series and loads more information.

Friday, 7:05pm. RA Dickey (11-7, 2.92 ERA) vs. Joe Blanton (7-6, 5.04 ERA). Dickey is 2-1 with a 2.00 ERA in 3 career starts against the Phillies. In 14 road starts this year, Dickey has posted a 4-5 record with a 3.62 ERA. In 6 career starts against the Metropolitans, Blanton is 2-1 with a 2.66 ERA. In his last 7 starts, Blanton has posted a 3-0 record with a 3.21 ERA. Jose Reyes is 2-for-15 (.133 avg) against Blanton in his career.

Saturday, 7:05pm. Dillon Gee (1-1, 1.80 ERA) vs. Kyle Kendrick (10-9, 4.78 ERA). The righty rookie, Gee, will be making his 4th Major League start. Gee has a 13-8 record and a 4.96 ERA in 28 minor league starts this year. In his last 5 starts, Kendrick is 2-3 with a 5.88 ERA. In 15 home starts in 2010, Kendrick has posted a 4-6 record with a 5.60 ERA. In 8 career starts against the Metropolitans, Kendrick is 3-3 with a 3.07 ERA.

Sunday, 1:35pm. Mike Pelfrey (15-9, 3.75) vs. Cole Hamels (12-10, 2.93 ERA). In his last 5 starts, Pelfrey is 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA. In 5 career starts at Citizens Bank Park, Pelfrey has a 1-2 record with an 8.17 ERA. Chase Utley is 9-for-30 (.300 avg) with 4 HR and 8 RBI against the right-handed Pelfrey in his career. In his last 9 starts, Hamels is 5-3 with a 1.55 ERA. In 3 starts against the Metropolitans this year, Hamels' record is 0-3 and his ERA is 1.69. Opponents are batting .202 against Hamels since the All-star break.

Fill-in Metropolitans closer Hisanori Takahashi has allowed just 1 earned run in 11 1/3 innings pitched (0.79 ERA) against the Phillies this season. Placido Polanco is 3-for-5 against Takahashi.

David Wright is batting .244 in 60 games since the All-star break. Wright is batting .345 against lefty hurlers this season.

In his last 9 games, Jayson Werth has gone 12-for-33 (.363 avg) with 5 homers, 13 RBI, 12 runs scored and 3 stolen bases.

Chase Utley has posted a .338 batting average with 4 homers and 17 RBI in 23 games played this month. In his last 12 home games, Utley has posted a .366 batting average.

Raul Ibanez has posted a .355 avg. in 20 September games this season. Ibanez is batting .232 in 15 games against the Metropolitans this season.

Metropolitans team runs scored- 618
Phillies team runs scored- 723

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