NLDS Games 2 & 3 Preview, 10/4-10/5

Tied at 1 game apiece in the best-of-five National League Division Series, the Phillies and Cardinals will battle it out in St. Louis for a chance to go to advance.

With lefty Cole Hamels on the mound, set to tie Hall of Famer Steve Carlton for most postseason starts by a pitcher in Phillies history, with 13, the Phillies will face another left-hander, Jaime Garcia in game 3 on Tuesday night.

Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups and other key notes from these two games.

Tuesday, 5:07 PM. Cole Hamels (14-9, 2.79 ERA) vs Jaime Garcia (13-7, 3.56 ERA). In 17 road games this season, Hamels posted a 7-3, 2.93 ERA with a .219 batting average against. Hamels has a 2-3 record with a 3.27 ERA in 9 career starts against the Cardinals. Albert Pujols is 4-for-23 (.174 avg) with a double and 2 HR in his career against Hamels. The 2008 World Series MVP, Hamels, has a 6-4 record with a 3.33 ERA in 12 career postseason starts. Garcia posted a 3-0 record with a 2.64 ERA in his final 5 starts of the regular season. In 6 career games against the Phillies, Garcia has a 2-1 record with a 1.20 ERA and a .178 batting average againts. In 15 home starts this year, Garcia posted a 9-4 record with a 2.55 ERA. Jimmy Rollins is 1-for-11 (.091 avg) in his career against Garcia.

Wednesday, 6:07 PM. Roy Oswalt (9-10, 3.69 ERA) vs. Edwin Jackson (12-9, 3.79 ERA). In 33 career games against St. Louis, including the postseason, Oswalt has a 10-9 record and a 3.33 ERA. Oswalt posted a 5-4 record and a 3.59 ERA in 10 starts after the All-Star break this season. In 13 games for St. Louis this year, Jackson went 5-2 with a 3.58 ERA and a .300 batting average against. Jackson allowed 1 earned run in 2 innings of work against the Phillies in the 2008 World Series.

Two-time All-Star Shane Victorino is a .268 hitter in 43 career postseason games. Victorino's 30 postseason RBI are second only to Ryan Howard's 33 on the all-time Phillies leader list.

In 52 career games, including the postseason, against the Cardinals, Chase Utley is a .329 hitter with 6 HR and 32 RBI. Utley batted .239 with a .675 OPS in 50 regular season road games this year.

Hunter Pence has a .259 batting average and a .674 OPS in 36 career games at Busch Stadium.

In 43 career postseason games, Rafael Furcal has a .246 batting average with 3 homeruns and 26 runs scored. Furcal's team has lost 8 of 10 postseason series he has participated in, including 2 against the Phillies with the Dodgers in 2008 and 2009.

Matt Holliday after the All-Star break this season batted .263 with 8 homeruns, compared to .324/24 prior to the break. Holliday has been sidelined lately with tendinits in his right hand and is not expected to play on Tuesday. Holliday is a .259 hitter in 15 career postseason games.

Righty reliever Jason Motte earned the save in game 2 against the Phillies on Sunday. In 38 home appearances this season, Motte posted a 4-0 record with 7 saves, 1 blown save, a 3.12 ERA and a .160 batting average against.

_____________________________________________

You can follow PhoulBallz on Twitter by clicking HERE.

Also connect with PhoulBallz on Facebook by clicking HERE

Jersey Shore clinches playoff berth on final day of regular season

Ottto Kemp, image- Jay Floyd With an extra-inning victory over first-half division champions Hudson Valley on Sunday, the Class A Advanced Jersey Shore BlueClaws clinched the team's first playoff appearance since 2018, winning the second-half division title. Key performers in the BlueClaws' clincher were righty hurler Jason Ruffcorn, who threw three innings of relief to earn the victory and third baseman Otto Kemp, notched three hits, a walk, two stolen bases and plated the game winning run in the 11th inning on a sacrifice fly. On top of that, Kemp, who turned 24-years-old on Saturday, made an absolute game-saving defensive play to help the club hold their lead in the bottom of the 11th frame. One of Jersey Shore's most consistent performers all season long has been right-handed reliever Cam Wynne. The Phillies' 20th round draft pick in 2021 out of Nebraska. In 34 appearances, one start, the 24-year-old tallied a 1-1 record with one save, a 2.44 ERA and a .190 batti

PhoulBallz Interview: BlueClaws OF Justin Crawford

Justin Crawford w/ junior reporter Evan At the age of 19, outfielder Justin Crawford has played his way into the conversation of being considered as one of baseball's top prospects. The son of four-time MLB All-Star Carl Crawford, Justin has looked every bit as impressive as his position as the 17th overall draft selection last year would have most fans thinking he should be. He opened the season with Class A Clearwater where, in 69 games, he notched a .344/.399/.478 slash line. And since mid-August when he was promoted to Class A Advanced Jersey Shore, the younger Crawford has posted a .300/.364/.440 line. He's also stolen 44 bases in 52 attempts overall. And while the BlueClaws enter the final week of the regular season 1/2 game out of first place in their division, I spoke with Justin Crawford about the team's hopes of making the postseason for the first time since 2018. I also asked Justin about the similarities and differences between his skillset and his father'

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 . ______________

PhoulBallz.com

Search This Blog