Series Preview: Padres at Phillies, May 11-13

It's been a number of years since the Phillies (14-18) were 4 games under .500 at this stage of the season. That happened in 2007, to be precise, and that year marked the beginning of the club's streak of 5 consecutive National League East division titles. The Phillies hope to bounce back in the same way they did back then, as they take on the San Diego Padres, who, at 11-21, sport the worst record in the NL. The two teams begin a three-game series on Friday evening.

To open the series, the Padres will send lefty hurler Clayton Richard to the mound. Richard has lost his last 4 starts. The Phillies will counter with righty Vance Worley, who is fresh off his worst outing of the season when he surrendered 5 earned runs in 6 innings pitched against Washington last Saturday.

The Phillies won 3 of 4 meetings with San Diego at Citizens Bank Park last season.

Read ahead for more information on the pitching match ups for this series as well as plenty more statistical information.

Friday, 7:05 PM. Clayton Richard (1-4, 4.89 ERA) vs. Vance Worley (2-2, 2.84 ERA). In 3 road starts this season, Richard is 0-2 with a 7.85 ERA. Richard is 0-2 with a 2.40 ERA in 2 career starts against Philadelphia. Placido Polanco is 2-for-13 (.154 avg) in his career against Richard. Worley threw 7 scoreless innings in his only career appearance against the Padres. In 2 home starts this year, Worley is 0-1 with a 3.46 ERA. In 3 night starts this season, Worley is 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA.

Saturday, 7:05 PM. Edinson Volquez (1-2, 2.98 ERA) vs. Roy Halladay (3-2, 3.28 ERA). In 3 career starts against the Phillies, the right-handed Volquez is 2-1 with a 1.96 ERA. Hunter Pence is 3-for-21 (.143 avg) in his career against Volquez. In 4 career starts against San Diego, Halladay has a 3-1 record with a 2.05 ERA. Halladay is 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA in 3 home starts this season.

Sunday, 1:35 PM. Jeff Suppan (2-0, 0.90 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (4-1, 2.45 ERA). Suppan is 3-7 with a 6.62 ERA and a .334 batting average against in 14 career games (13 starts) against the Phillies. In 4 career starts at Citizens Bank Park, Suppan has a 1-3 record with an 8.69 ERA. Hunter Pence is 7-for-17 (.412 avg) with a double and 3 HR in his career against Suppan. In 12 career starts against San Diego, Hamels has a 7-2 record with a 2.22 ERA. Hamels is 1-1 with a 3.65 ERA in 2 home starts this season.

In 28 career games against the Phillies, Chase Headley has a .253 average with 1 HR and 8 RBI. Headley is batting .303 in 9 road games this season.

Cameron Maybin is batting .133 in 8 road games thus far in 2012. In 13 career games at Citizens Bank Park, Maybin has posted a .367 batting average with 5 doubles, a triple and 2 HR.

Yonder Alonso is 3-for-23 (.130 avg) in 8 career games against Philadelphia. During his current 7-game hitting streak, Alonso is 12-for-29 (.413 average).

In 13 home games this season, Shane Victorino has posted a .222 batting average with 1 HR and 3 RBI.

Carlos Ruiz is a career .236 hitter in 29 games against the Padres. Ruiz has no extra base hits in 8 day games this season.

Juan Pierre is a .290 career hitter in 113 games against the Padres. In 42 career games at Citizens Bank Park, Pierre is a .308 hitter.

Padres team batting average- .222
Phillies team batting average- .257
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Image- AP

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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 . _________

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