Series Preview, Phillies at Dodgers, 8/8-8/10

The west coast swing continues for the Phillies (74-40) beginning Monday night, as they travel to Los Angeles to start a 3-game series against the Dodgers (52-61).

After having their 9-game win streak snapped at the hands of San Francisco on Sunday, the Phillies look to begin a new one with their ace on the mound. Reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay will start the series opener and will be looking for his league leading 15th win. Los Angeles will counter with righty hurler Hiroki Kuroda, who has been outstanding against the Phillies in the regular season.

The Phillies received word on Monday that is set to impact their lineup, as center fielder Shane Victorino has been served a 3-game suspension for his involvement in the bench clearing incident in a game against the Giants on Friday. The suspension would have begun Monday and lasted throughout this series, but Victorino has appealed.

When the teams met earlier this season in Philadelphia, the Phillies won two of three games against the Dodgers.

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

Monday, 10:10PM. Roy Halladay (14-4, 2.55 ERA) vs. Hiroki Kuroda (7-13, 2.96 ERA). In 10 road starts this season, Halladay has a 6-3 record with a 2.93 ERA. Halladay is 3-1 with a 2.03 ERA in 4 career starts against the Dodgers. Juan Rivera is 0-for-14 in his career against Halladay. Kuroda is 2-8 with a 3.48 ERA in 12 home starts this year. In 5 career regular season starts against the Phillies, Kuroda has posted a 2-1 record with a 0.84 ERA and a .087 batting average against. Kuroda is 1-4 with a 3.16 ERA in his last 5 starts.

Tuesday, 10:10PM. Cliff Lee (11-7, 2.96 ERA) vs. Ted Lilly (7-11, 4.86 ERA). In 10 starts on the road this season, Lee is 3-5 with a 3.95 ERA. Lee is 2-1 with a 3.71 ERA in 4 starts since the All-star Break. Rod Barajas is 0-for-15 in his career against Lee. In 7 career starts against the Phillies, Lilly has a 1-5 record with a 5.49 ERA. The left-handed Lilly has a 4.60 ERA in 22 career games at Dodger Stadium.

Wednesday, 3:10PM. Vance Worley (8-1, 2.35 ERA) vs. Chad Billingsley (10-9, 4.17 ERA). In his last 9 starts, Worley is 6-0 with a 1.79 ERA. Worley has a 2.52 ERA in 8 road games this season. In 20 career MLB games, Worley has held opponents to a .208 batting average. Billingsley is 5-4 with a 2.88 ERA in 11 home starts this season. In his last 4 starts, Billingsley is 2-2 with a 5.62 ERA. Hunter Pence is 4-for-7 in his career against Billingsley with 3 doubles.

In 67 career regular season games against the Dodgers, Jimmy Rollins is a .228 hitter. Rollins is batting .179 in 7 August games.

Hunter Pence has posted a .342 batting average and a .945 OPS in 9 games since joining the Phillies. In 9 career games at Dodger Stadium, Pence has a .270 average.

In 29 career games against the Dodgers including the post-season, Brad Lidge has a 2.76 ERA with a 2-2 record and 13 saves.

Matt Kemp has posted a .341 batting average with 7 HR and 24 RBI in 33 career games against Philadelphia. Kemp is batting 31 points lower at home than he is on the road this season.

Rookie Dee Gordon is batting .196 in 13 home games. The lefty hitting Gordon is batting .221 against right-handed pitchers.

Right-handed reliever Javy Guerra has filled the Dodgers' closer vacancy well lately, by posting a 1-0 record with 6 saves and a 0.00 ERA in 8 appearances since the All-star Break.

Phillies team batting average- .252
Dodgers team batting average- .252

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