Series Preview: Phillies at Astros, 9/12-9/14

With Roy Oswalt and Hunter Pence making returning back to where they became households names in the baseball world, the Houston Astros (49-97) will play host to both fan favorites for the first time ever, as they face the Phillies (94-49) for a three-game series.

Prior to a trade that sent Oswalt to Philadelphia in July, 2010, he became a two-time 20 game winner and a three-time All-Star. Pence, who joined the Phillies after another trade with Houston in July this season, was a two-time All-Star as a member of the Astros.

Houston, having dealt away multiple noteworthy players, for prospects, have the worst record in the Majors by 10 games over the closest cellar dweller.

Read ahead for more details on the pitching match ups as well as other key info on this series.

Monday, 8:05 PM. Roy Oswalt (7-8, 3.72 ERA) vs. Brett Myers (4-13, 4.66 ERA). In his last 4 starts, Oswalt has a 2-1 record with a 3.33 ERA. Oswalt has served up a .314 batting average against in 11 road starts this season. In 149 career regular season games at Minute Maid Park, Oswalt is 77-34 with a 2.89 ERA. Brett Myers is 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA in 2 career starts against his former team, the Phillies. In his last 4 home starts, Myers is 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA. Myers has posted a 1-7 record with a 5.15 ERA in 13 home outings this year.

Tuesday, 8:05 PM. Cole Hamels (14-7, 2.60 ERA) vs. "Jay" Happ (5-15, 5.77 ERA). In his last 5 starts, Hamels has a 2-1 record with a 2.50 ERA. On the road this season, Hamels is 7-2 with a 2.74 ERA in 14 starts. Happ has a 1-1 record with a 2.50 ERA in his last 3 starts. In 13 home starts this season, Happ is 4-6 with a 4.78 ERA. Happ has a 6.62 ERA in 19 road games this year.

Wednesday, 2:05 PM. Roy Halladay (17-5, 2.44 ERA) vs. Bud Norris (6-9, 3.78 ERA). In 3 career starts against Houston, Halladay is 1-1 with a 1.64 ERA. Halladay is 9-3 with a 2.55 ERA in 15 starts on the road this season. In 13 day starts this year, Halladay has a 9-1 record with a 2.42 ERA. Norris is 1-2 with a 5.30 ERA in 4 career starts against the Phillies. In his last 5 starts, the righty Norris is 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA. Ryan Howard is 4-for-10 (.400 avg) with 2 doubles and a HR in his career against Norris.

In 18 career games against the Phillies, former Phillie Jason Michaels has a .300 batting average with 2 HR and 8 RBI. Overall, Michaels is batting .201 in 87 games this year.

Carlos Lee has an .851 OPS in 51 games since the All-Star break, compared to his .741 mark in 88 games prior to the break. Lee is batting .352 against lefty pitchers this season.

Rookie outfielder J.D. Martinez, who was called up to the big leagues in conjunction with the Pence trade, is batting .296 in 18 games at Minute Maid Park.

Pence's .311 batting average is 5th best in the National League. Pence posted a .330 batting average in 52 games at Minute Maid Park this season.

Placido Polanco batted .398 in 26 April games. In 80 games since then, he has posted a .239 batting average.

Chase Utley is a career .205 hitter in 42 games against the Astros. Utley is batting .232 in 45 road games this season.

Shane Victorino is 0-for-8 in his career against Myers. Just 5 of Victorino's 16 homeruns this season have come at home.

Houston team ERA- 4.51
Phillies team ERA- 3.03

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