Series Preview: Phillies at Diamondbacks, 4/25-4/27

Having lost their second closer to an injury, the Phillies will look to continue rolling through National League opponents as they continue their road trip and head to Arizona for a three-game series.

On Sunday, the Phillies placed righty hurler Jose Contreras on the disabled list with a strained elbow in his throwing arm. Contreras was 5-for-5 in save opportunities this season in a substitute role for primary closer Brad Lidge, who has not pitched this season due to a strained shoulder.

The Phillies have called up Mike Stutes, the Phillies' 11th round draft pick in 2008, to fill the void on the roster.

Ryan Madson, who saved two games for the Phillies in San Diego in the Phillies' last series, will take over the closer duties in Contreras' place.

The Phillies (15-6), who sport the best record in Major League Baseball, will take on the Diamondbacks (8-12), who are in fourth place, 5 1/2 games behind first place Colorado in the NL West division. The D-Backs won 2 of 3 meetings with the Phillies in Arizona last season.

Read ahead for analysis on the pitching match ups and loads more statistics and details for this series.

Monday, 9:40PM. Cliff Lee (2-1, 3.91 ERA) vs. Ian Kennedy (2-1, 5.64 ERA). In 2 career starts against the D-Backs, Lee has a 2-0 record with a 2.57 ERA and a .197 batting average against. Lee is 1-1 with a 4.38 ERA in two road starts this season. In Kennedy's lone career starts against Philadelphia, he allowed 2 earned runs over 8 innings and did not earn a decision. Kennedy allowed 9 earned runs in 3 innings against St. Louis in his last home start. Kennedy, a right-hander, is 5-5 with a 4.03 ERA in 17 career starts at Chase Field. Placido Polanco is 1-for-7 (.143 avg) in his career against Kennedy.

Tuesday, 9:40PM. Roy Oswalt (3-0, 1.87 ERA) vs. Daniel Hudson (0-4, 5.92 ERA). In 12 career starts against Arizona, Oswalt has a 9-2 record with a 1.91 ERA. In 4 career starts at Chase Field, Oswalt has a 4.15 ERA. Chris Young is 6-for-15 (.400 avg) with a double and a homerun in his career against Oswalt. In 8 career starts at Chase Field, Hudson is 3-3 with a 2.40 ERA. Hudson was acquired in the trade for Edwin Jackson last season.

Wednesday, 3:40PM. Cole Hamels (2-1, 2.92 ERA) vs. Joe Saunders (0-2, 4.98 ERA). Dating back to last July, Hamels has a 5-2 record with a 1.18 ERA in his last 11 road starts (76 2/3 innings pitched), including the postseason. In 5 career starts against the D-Backs, Hamels is 2-1 with a 3.69 ERA. Hamels tossed 8 shutout innings in his last start against the Padres. Kelly Johnson is 4-for-23 (.174 avg) in his career against Hamels. In 2 starts against the Phillies, Saunders is 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA. Saunders has an 8.38 ERA in 2 home starts this season. Raul Ibanez is 8-for-23 (.348 avg) with 2 homers in his career against Saunders.

Ryan Madson is 3-0 with 1 save a 3.64 ERA in 17 career games against the D-Backs. Opponents are batting .188 against Madson this season.

Ryan Howard's 19 RBI lead the Phillies and are good enough for second best in the National League.

Shane Victorino is batting .325 with a .936 OPS in 10 road games this season.

Kelly Johnson is batting .147 in 8 home games this season. Johnson's 11 HR against the Phillies are his most against any opponent.

Gerardo Parra is a .171 hitter in 11 career games against Philadelphia. Parra is a .290 career hitter at Chase Field.

In his career, JJ Putz has thrown 5 scoreless innings against the Phillies. This season, Putz has 5 saves and has held opponents to a .154 batting average.

Phillies Team ERA- 3.00
Diamondbacks Team ERA- 5.16

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