Series Preview: Phillies at Pirates, 6/3-6/5

The Phillies (34-22) continue their road trip in Pittsburgh this weekend, where they will play their Keystone State rivals, the Pirates (26-29).

Expected to return to the Phillies' active roster in time for the series opener is outfielder Shane Victorino, who has been sidelined with a right hamstring strain since May 19th. To make room for Victorino, the Phils will reportedly option OF/1B John Mayberry Jr. to the minors. Victorino went 2-for-13 with a HR in 4 minor league rehab games since last Saturday.

In the opener of the 3-game series, the Phillies will send their "fourth ace", Cole Hamels, who has won three straight starts, to the mound. Pittsburgh will counter with Jeff Karstens, who has spent time in the Pirates rotation and their bullpen this season.

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

Friday, 7:05PM. Cole Hamels (7-2, 3.01 ERA) vs. Jeff Karstens (3-4, 3.58 ERA). In 4 career starts against the Pirates, Hamels is 1-1 with a 3.81 ERA. Hamels has a 4-0 record with a 2.31 ERA in 5 starts on the road this season. Andrew McCutchen is 3-for-9 (.333 avg) with a double and a HR in his career against Hamels. Karstens has no decisions with a 4.50 ERA in 3 games against the Phillies. In 6 home appearances this year, the righty Karstens has a 2-2 record with a 2.43 ERA. Raul Ibanez is 4-for-9 (.444 avg) in his career against Karstens.

Saturday, 7:05PM. Kyle Kendrick (3-3, 3.18 ERA) vs. Charlie Morton (5-2, 2.51 ERA). In 4 career starts against the Pirates, Kendrick is 4-0 with a 2.61 ERA and a complete game. Kendrick has a 2-0 record with a 1.59 ERA in 7 road games this season. Kendrick has walked 13 batters while striking out just 12 batters in 28 1/3 innings pitched this season. In 4 home starts this season, the right-handed Morton is 1-1 with a 1.95 ERA. Jimmy Rollins is 5-for-7 (.714 avg) in his career against Morton.

Sunday, 1:35PM. Roy Halladay (7-3, 2.56 ERA) vs. James McDonald (3-3, 4.85 ERA). In his last 5 starts, Halladay has a 2-2 record with a 3.07 ERA. In his only career start at PNC Park, Halladay threw 7 scoreless innings. McDonald has a 1-0 record with a 2.55 ERA in 4 home starts this season. In his last 7 starts, the righty hurler McDonald is 3-1 with a 2.43 ERA.

Jimmy Rollins has a .290 batting average and a .914 OPS in 27 career games at PNC Park.

In 14 career games against the Pirates, Raul Ibanez has a .196 batting average. Ibanez has an identical .246 average against both righty and lefty pitchers thus far in 2011.

Shane Victorino has a career .338 batting average in 25 games against the Pirates.

In 23 home games this season, Andrew McCutchen has posted a .198 batting average.

Neil Walker is 10-for-30 (.333 avg) during his current 7 game hitting streak. Walker is batting .265 in 22 home games this season.

Pirates closer Joel Hanrahan is 14-for-14 in save chances this season. In 19 career games against the Phillies, Hanrahan is 0-2 with 1 save, 1 blown save and a 3.10 ERA.

Phillies team ERA- 3.21
Pirates team ERA- 3.54

_________________________________________________________

You can follow PhoulBallz on Twitter by clicking HERE.

You can also connect with PhoulBallz on Facebook by clicking HERE.

This Guy Speaks For All of You

This individual, interviewed by FOX 29 on Friday as the Phillies arrived back at Citizens Bank Park, said it best. When asked how he felt regarding the Phillies, he told Steve Keeley that he was, "Stoked, baby!" The unidentified phanatic then proclaimed, "We are talking about the Fightins here, the Fightins! Said!" Check out the media player below, as the transcribed version certainly does not do this phireball of phandom justice. The Phillies forced game 6 of the National League Championship Series with a 4-2 victory over the Giants in San Francisco on Thursday night. Game 6 will feature Roy Oswalt vs. Jonathan Sanchez in a return pitching match up from game 2. First pitch is scheduled for 7:57 pm EST at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Be sure to tune in on 97.3 ESPN's Weekend Sports Guide with Tyrone Johnson this afternoon around 1:15pm to hear me chatting about the Phillies! 97.3 is based in Atlantic City. You can listen live online HERE . _________

McGwire Stays Phony, Despite Admitting Drug Use

Mark McGwire made an effort to publicly come clean today, admitting to the world that he took performance enhancing drugs during his playing career. Steroids and human growth hormones were among the drugs that McGwire admitted to using. MLB Network featured a one on one interview with Bob Costas and McGwire on Monday evening. The broadcast was virtually garbage, thanks to McGwire. Ahead is a list of quotes from McGwire's interview. McGwire repeatedly stated his point of view that there were no dishonorable intentions involved when taking steroids, and that he was merely using them as a means to recover from varying ailments. When asked if he felt like he cheated... "As I look back now...I can see how people would say that. As far as the talent goes and the hand-eye coordination, the ability, the genetics I was given...I don't see it." "I did not take this for any strength purposes." Denial. Read on for similar B.S. He whined about the abuse he'

18-inning Marathon Results in Early Return For Doc

Righty hurler Roy Halladay , who was slated to appear in another rehab outing for Double-A Reading on Sunday will return to the big league club instead, following a marathon of baseball Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park. In Saturday night's (Sunday morning's?) 12-7 defeat at the hands of the Diamondbacks, the Phillies sent nine pitchers and two position players to the mound to make it through the lengthy affair. Starter Ethan Martin could not escape the opening frame, as he allowed three hits, three walks and three earned runs. Over the 4 2/3 innings that followed, Luis Garcia and Zach Miner allowed a combined four earned runs. The remainder of the relief corps including Cesar Jimenez , Justin De Fratus , Jonathan Papelbon , Jake Diekman and B.J Rosenberg combined for 6 2/3 scoreless innings while Sunday's originally scheduled starter Tyler Cloyd was called upon to toss five scoreless frames. As the need to use Cloyd approached, the Phillies d

PhoulBallz.com

Search This Blog