As the first place Phillies (81-44) approach the final month of the season, it seems as though each week brings another injury. On Monday, it was announced that shortstop Jimmy Rollins will land on the disabled list with a grade 2 groin strain. Luckily, Placido Polanco, who missed time with a sports hernia, will be activated to fill Rollins' void on the roster.
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was quoted as saying he hopes that Rollins' DL stint lasts just 15 days, however it is unclear at this time whether or not Rollins will require a longer period to recover. As Corey Seidman of PhilliesNation points out, Orlando Hudson spent 24 days on the disable list earlier this season with the same injury.
The Phillies return home after a series loss to Washington over the weekend that saw the division leaders drop two contests in dramatic fashion in the Nationals' final plate appearance of each game.
Philadelphia will play host to the Metropolitans (60-66), who have lost 8 of 12 meetings with the Phillies thus far in 2011.
In the series opener, the Phillies will send ace lefty Cliff Lee, who has won each of his last four starts, to the hill. New York will counter with rookie right-hander Dillon Gee, who completes an interestingly rhyme-y pitching match up.
Read ahead for loads more stats on this upcoming series.
Monday, 7:05 PM. Dillon Gee (11-3, 3.92 ERA) vs. Cliff Lee (13-7, 2.82 ERA). In 12 road games this year, Gee is 6-2 with a 4.41 ERA. Gee has a 2-1 record and a 4.77 ERA over his last 5 starts. Ryan Howard is 2-for-4 with 2 homeruns and 6 RBI in his career against Gee. In his last 5 home starts, Lee has a 3-1 record with a 3.03 ERA. Lee is 1-0 with a 0.64 ERA in 2 career starts against the Metropolitans. Lee has a 9-2 record and a 2.28 ERA in 14 home starts this season.
Tuesday, 7:05 PM. Jonathon Niese (11-10, 4.05 ERA) vs. Vance Worley (8-1, 2.76 ERA). In 13 road games this year, Niese has a 6-4 record with a 4.63 ERA. Niese is 2-2 with a 5.28 ERA in his last 5 starts. In 4 starts at Citizens Bank Park, Niese is 1-2 with a 3.70 ERA. Placido Polanco is 7-for-18 (.389 avg) in his career against the lefty Niese. In his last 10 games, Worley is 6-0 with a 2.45 ERA. Worley is 4-0 with a 2.06 ERA in 4 home starts this season. Daniel Murphy is 4-for-8 (.500 avg) in his career when facing Worley.
Wednesday, 1:05 PM. Mike Pelfrey (6-10, 4.61 ERA) vs. Kyle Kendrick (7-5, 3.24 ERA). In 14 home appearances this season, Kendrick has a 2-4 record with a 3.35 ERA. Kendrick has a 2.68 ERA in 7 games since the All-star break. In 17 career starts against the Phillies, Pelfrey has a 6-6 record with a 5.12 ERA. Pelfrey has allowed 10 earned runs in 6 2/3 innings (14.21 ERA) over two starts this season at Citizens Bank Park. Chase Utley is 10-for-34 (.294 avg) in his career against Pelfrey with 2 doubles and 4 HR.
In 6 games at Citizens Bank Park this season, David Wright is 11-for-27 (.407 avg) with 2 doubles. Wright is a .278 career hitter at CBP and a .273 hitter overall against the Phillies.
Rookie Lucas Duda is batting .320 in 25 games since the All-star break. Duda has posted a .241 average in 38 games on the road this season.
Jason Bay is 12-for-60 (.200 avg) against the Phillies as a member of the Metropolitans. In 52 road games this season, Bay has a .215 batting average and a .597 OPS.
In 93 career games against the Metropolitans, Shane Victorino has a .302 batting average. Victorino's .314 overall batting average this season is good enough for seventh best in the National League.
In 24 games since the All-star break, John Mayberry Jr. is batting .317 with a .989 OPS.
Carlos Ruiz has a .218 batting average in 68 career games against the Mets. Ruiz has hit just 1 HR at home this season.
Metropolitans team ERA- 4.18
Phillies team ERA- 3.10
________________________________________
You can follow PhoulBallz on Twitter by clicking HERE.
You can also connect with PhoulBallz on Facebook by clicking HERE.
Comments