Skip to main content

NLDS Game 5 Preview


In the deciding game 5 of the National League Division Series, the Cardinals and the Phillies will send their ace to the mound in hopes of advancing in the playoffs.

Chris Carpenter and Roy Halladay were 1st round draft picks by the Toronto Blue Jays that went on to become Cy Young Award winners and the hurler that their teams count at crunch time. Pressure will be on each man to help carry his team to the National League Championship Series, where their squad will face the winner of the Diamondbacks/Brewers series.

The Phillies, who entered 2011 as the favorite to represent the National League in the World Series, set a franchise record with 102 wins in the regular season. They could see their dreams crushed much earlier than was anticipated.

St. Louis has been the hot club down the stretch, having won 11 of their final 15 regular season games to clinch a playoff berth.


Friday, 8:37 PM. Chris Carpenter (0-0, 12.00 ERA in 2011 postseason) vs. Roy Halladay (1-0, 3.37 ERA in 2011 postseason). In his last 10 starts, Halladay is 6-2 with a 1.99 ERA. Halladay has a 3-1 record with a 2.70 ERA in 4 career postseason starts. In 16 home starts this year, including the postseason, Halladay has a 9-3 record with a 2.56 ERA. Halladay has a 3-1 record with a 2.37 ERA in 5 career starts against St. Louis. In his last 3 starts of the regular season, Carpenter went 2-0 with a 0.38 ERA, but he allowed 4 earned runs in just 3 innings against the Phillies in game two of this series last Sunday. Carpenter has a 5.33 ERA in 5 career starts at Citizens Bank Park. The three-time All-Star, Carpenter, has a 5-2 record with a 3.38 in 10 career postseason starts.


In 38 career postseason games, Lance Berkman has a .307 batting average with a .979 OPS. The six-time All-Star, Berkman, is 3-for-18 (.200 avg) in this series.

Lefty reliever Arthur Rhodes posted a 5.84 ERA in 23 regular season games after the All-Star break this year.

Albert Pujols is 7-for-17 (.412 avg) in this series. Pujols is 10-for-25 (.400 avg) in 6 games at Citizens Bank Park this year, including the postseason.

In 45 career postseason games, Carlos Ruiz has posted a .259 batting average with 4 HR and 15 RBI. Ruiz is just 1-for-15 (.071 avg) in this series.

Jimmy Rollins is 9-for-17 (.563 avg) with 6 runs scored in this year's NLDS. Rollins is batting .249 in 73 home games this year.

Placido Polanco, who went 0-for-17 against the Cardinals in the 2006 World Series for the Tigers, has gone 2-for-16 (.125 avg) in this series. Polanco has a .426 OPS in 14 career NLDS games.

__________________________________________________________

You can follow PhoulBallz on Twitter by clicking HERE.

Also connect with PhoulBallz on Facebook by clicking HERE

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Prospect Nation 2012: #1 RHP Trevor May

With a massively impressive campaign in 2011 for the Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers, right-handed starting pitcher Trevor May locked down his spot as Philadelphia's top prospect and is on the fast track toward the big leagues. He is the reigning Paul Owens Award winner, given to the top pitcher and player in the Phillies' developmental system each year. In 27 starts with the Threshers in 2011, May posted a 10-8 record with a 3.63 ERA, while striking out a Florida State League leading 208 batters in 151 1/3 innings. He also held opposing hitters to a .221 average. The Phillies' 4th round draft pick from 2008, May earned the win in the 50th annual Florida State League All-Star Game at Bright House Field last year. He also was twice named FSL Pitcher of the Week and earned Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Month honors for June. After signing with Philadelphia, May helped lead the rookie level Gulf Coast League Phillies to a championship in 2008. In 5 regular ...

PhoulBallz Interview: First round pick Bryson Stott

Bryson Stott, image- Jay Floyd Shortstop Bryson Stott , the Phillies' first round draft selection this year, has enjoyed a successful initial pro campaign.  En route to being recognized as an All-Star for the Class A short-season Williamsport Crosscutters the 21-year-old UNLV product has tallied a .295 average with six home runs and 25 RBI in 45 minor league contests. Last week I spoke with the lefty hitting Stott to discuss his transition to professional baseball, joining the Phillies organization and plenty more.  Read ahead for that interview.  -Obviously, your performance and the production on the field is going well, but how do you feel you have adapted to the pro life? It feels good.  You hear about the everyday grind, but you don't really believe it till you feel it. I would say that's the difference between college and the pros, is you're not practicing, you're playing games every day.  I would say that's the biggest difference.  But I...

Phillies look-alikes, Part 1

The Phillies are World Series Champions and, thus, are world wide celebrities. This recognition isn't enough, I tell you. Some of the champs could very well be confused with other major celebrities around the globe...or at least around my house. Let's dig in... Two look-alikes in particular have been widely discussed. Geoff Jenkins even made a sign on the table covering at his autograph station at last year's Phillies Phestival that he is not Brett Favre or phormer Phillie Randy Wolf. ------------------------------------------------------- Jayson Werth may be on his way to Wrestlemania. Jay-Dub is aware that he resembles Heavyweight wrestling champion Adam "Edge" Copeland. Are you? -------------------------------------------- Carlos Ruiz's fame was boosted by TBS during the playoffs, but he might be ready for his own Comedy Central sketch show, as he looks very much like Carlos Mencia. Dee dee dee! -------------------------------------------------- And whi...