Series Preview: Dodgers at Phillies, June 4-6

Fresh off a series loss to division rival Miami, the Phillies (28-27) will host the team with the best record in the National League when the Dodgers (33-21) visit to start a four-game series at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies were hit with another blow to their active roster over the weekend, as reliever Jose Contreras suffered a complete tear of the ulnar collateral ligament and a flexor pronator tear during his most recent outing. Contreras, who is expected to miss the remainder of the season, joins a lengthy disabled list for the Phils that includes Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Mike Stutes and Roy Halladay. The Phillies look forward to some aid, however, as righty starting pitcher Vance Worley will be activated to start the series opener on Monday.

Last season the Phillies took five of six meetings with the Dodgers.

Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups and other statistical notes on this series.

Monday, 7:05 PM. Clayton Kershaw (4-3, 2.42 ERA) vs. Vance Worley (3-2, 3.07 ERA). In 6 career regular season starts against the Phillies, Kershaw is 0-4 with a 5.18 ERA. In 3 road starts this season, Kershaw has a 1-0 record with a 2.60 ERA. Hunter Pence is 1-for-11 (.091 avg.) in his career against Kershaw. Worley, who was recently sidelined with an elbow injury, last pitched on May 11th. Worley is 3-0 with a 1.73 ERA in 4 night starts this season. In 16 regular season games at Citizens Bank Park, Worley has an 8-3 record with a 2.61 ERA.

Tuesday, 7:05 PM. Chad Billingsley (2-4, 4.09 ERA) vs. Cliff Lee (0-2, 3.00 ERA). In 6 career regular season starts against the Phils, the righty Billingsley has a 1-2 record with a 3.31 ERA. On the road this season, Billingsley has a 1-2 record with a 4.18 ERA in 4 games. Hunter Pence is 5-for-10 (.500 avg) with 3 doubles and a HR in his career against Billingsley. Lee is 0-2 with a 3.86 ERA in 4 home starts this season. In 3 career regular season starts against the Dodgers, Lee has a 2-0 record with a 0.40 ERA. Jerry Hairston Jr. is 2-for-19 (.105 avg.) with a HR in his career against Lee.

Wednesday, 7:05 PM. Chris Capuano (7-2, 2.50 ERA) vs. Kyle Kendrick (2-4, 4.02 ERA). Capuano has a 0-2 record with a 2.87 ERA in 6 career regular season appearances against the Phillies. In his last 5 road starts, Capuano has posted a 2.93 ERA. Hunter Pence is 1-for-9 (.111 avg.) in his career against Capuano. In 7 career regular season games against the Dodgers, Kendrick has a 4-3 record with an 8.01 ERA and a .339 batting average against. James Loney is 8-for-14 (.571 avg.) with 2 doubles and 2 HR in his career against Kendrick.

Thursday, 1:05 PM. Aaron Harang (4-3, 3.90 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (8-2, 2.81 ERA). The right-handed Harang has a 3-2 record with a 5.29 ERA in 12 career games against the Phillies. Harang has a 5.18 ERA in 6 career games at Citizens Bank Park. Ty Wigginton is 6-for-12 (.500 avg.) with a double and 2 HR in his career against Harang. In 5 regular season starts against the Dodgers, Hamels is 3-0 with a 1.18 ERA. Hamels is 4-2 with a 3.07 ERA in 6 home starts this season. Jerry Hairston Jr. is 2-for-20 (.100 avg.) in his career against Hamels.

In 35 career regular season games against the Phillies, Loney has a .346 batting average with 4 HR. Loney has a .366/.416/.577 line in 19 regular season games at Citizens Bank Park.

Former Phillie Bobby Abreu is batting .310 with 1 HR, 8 RBI and 2 SB in 26 games since joining the Dodgers. Abreu is a .299 hitter in 214 games at Citizens Bank Park.

LA closer Kenley Jansen has 6 saves in 9 chances and sports 2.53 ERA in 10 road games this season. Overall, opponents are batting .146 against Jansen in 25 games this season.

Carlos Ruiz's .371 batting average is second best in the Majors. Ruiz is a .310 hitter in 26 career regular season games against the Dodgers.

Pence is a .275 hitter with 3 HR and 14 RBI in 26 career games against the Dodgers.

In 70 career regular season games against the Dodgers, Jimmy Rollins has a .236 batting average. Rollins is batting .290 in 24 home games this season.

__________________________________________________________

You can follow PhoulBallz on Twitter by clicking HERE.

Also connect with PhoulBallz on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Diekman a Late Addition to Mesa AFL Roster

On Wednesday, Phillies lefty pitching prospect Jacob Diekman made his Arizona Fall League debut. Diekman, who was drafted in the 30th round of the 2007 amateur draft, was assigned to Mesa late, in order to increase his 2010 innings total, according to Mesa hitting coach Mark Parent, who managed Diekman in Lakewood this past season. Diekman, 23, posted a 2-0 record with 1.90 ERA in 21 games with Class A Lakewood before being promoted to High-A Clearwater on June 24th. In 24 games with the Threshers, Diekman went 0-2 with a 3.66 ERA. Combined, Diekman tossed 55 2/3 innings and held opponents to a .187 batting average against at two levels in 2010. However, after not pitching in an official game since he threw a shutout inning to wrap up the Clearwater season on September 5th, Diekman was unable to record an out as all seven batters he faced reached base, six with hits, one on an error. Diekman was charged with 5 earned runs in the outing. Diekman had spent time at instructional ball from

2022 Phillies Top Prospects Countdown: #24 RHP Cristian Hernandez

Venezuelan born right-hander Cristian Hernandez has begun to earn recognition as one of the Phillies most promising pitching prospects. Signed as a 16-year-old in 2017 for a reported $120,000, Hernandez got his professional career started the following summer as a starter for the Phillies' Red Dominican Summer League club. There, in 13 starts, Hernandez tallied a 2-3 record with 2.57 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP as well as a 7.0 K/9 mark. An injury sidelined Hernandez in 2019 and the 2020 season was cancelled due to the global pandemic. In 2021, Hernandez saw his first regular season action in the United States, starting his season in Florida Complex League. After two appearances there, the six-foot-three 185-pounder was promoted to the Class A Clearwater Threshers. In 20 combined outings (17 starts), Hernandez notched a 2-7 record with a 3.57 ERA, a .228 batting average against and an 11.2 K/9 mark. Projectability is something that baseball folks like about Hernandez. His size, consistent

Who is Your Favorite Willie 'Mays' Hayes?

PhoulBallz.com is wondering which individual who has portrayed Willie "Mays" Hayes is the favorite of the public. Hayes, of course, is the character made famous in the Major League motion picture series. In Major League , Willie "Mays" Hayes was portrayed by budding Hollywood actor Wesley Snipes, who would go on to action movie superstardom. Snipes has starred in major motion pictures like the Blade trilogy, Passenger 57 , Undisputed and many more. Snipes remains an impact Hollywood actor, despite legal troubles related to income tax evasion. Snipes was replaced for the sequel, Major League II when his busy career, and possibly the film's budget, would not allow him to return, by Omar Epps. Another budding actor, Epps had previously worked with director David S. Ward, on the film The Program , and landed the role of Hayes, who had become a Hollywood action star over the off-season that occured between the two films. Epps' career portraying athletes rolle

PhoulBallz.com

Search This Blog