Series Preview: Phillies at Dodgers, July 16-18

The Phillies (39-51) continue their road trip when they begin a three-game series against the Dodgers (48-42) on Monday night.

Both teams are have a rough go of it in July, as the Phillies won consecutive games for the first time this month on Sunday, when they clinched a series victory against the Rockies, their first since taking two of three games from Pittsburgh nearly three weeks earlier. Meanwhile, the Dodgers, who are in second place in the National League West division, have lost five of their last six games and have average just 2.35 runs per game in their last 17 contests.

The Phillies won all three games against the Dodgers in Los Angeles last season.

Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups and loads more statistical information on this series.

Monday, 10:10 PM. Joe Blanton (7-8, 4.98 ERA) vs. Nathan Eovaldi (1-5, 4.21 ERA). In 5 career regular season starts against the Dodgers, Blanton has a 1-0 record with a 3.52 ERA. Over his last 4 starts, Blanton is 1-2 with a 5.12 ERA. Blanton is 3-5 with a5.23 ERA in 9 road games this season. Eovaldi is 0-2 with a 3.93 ERA in 3 home games this year. The 22-year-old Eovaldi was the Dodgers' 11th round draft pick in 2008.

Tuesday, 10:10 PM. Roy Halladay (4-5, 3.98 ERA) vs. To Be Announced. Halladay, sidelined since May 27th with a right lat strain, will be activated from the disabled list. Halladay is 2-5 with a 5.29 ERA in his last 8 starts. In his career against the Dodgers, Halladay is 4-1 with a 1.93 ERA. Juan Rivera is 0-for-14 in his career against Halladay. An injury to starter Chad Billingsley forced Chris Capuano into action on Sunday and moved Nathan Eovaldi forward one day as well. It is unclear who Los Angeles will use in the starting pitching role on Tuesday.

Wednesday, 3:10 PM. Cliff Lee (1-6, 3.92 ERA) vs. Clayton Kershaw (7-5, 2.84 ERA). In 4 career regular season starts against the Dodgers, Lee has a 2-1 record with a 0.90 ERA. Lee has a 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA in 9 road starts this year. Jerry Hairston Jr. is 3-for-22 (.136 avg) in his career against Lee. In 11 home starts this season, Kershaw has a 5-3 record with a 2.49 ERA. Hunter Pence is 1-for-15 (.067 avg) in his career against Kershaw. Batters are hitting .222 against Kershaw this season.

Carlos Ruiz has posted a .389 batting average in 39 road games this season. In 30 career regular season games against the Dodgers, Ruiz is a .289 hitter with a homer and 13 RBI. Ruiz's .353 batting average is tied for 2nd best in the NL.

In 19 day games this year, Shane Victorino has a .189 batting average. In 9 July games, Victorino is batting .167.

Antonio Bastardo has a 2-1 record with a 3.29 ERA with a .180 batting average against in 16 road games this year.

In 50 career games against the Phillies, Jerry Hairston Jr. is a .201 hitter. Hairston is batting .300 overall in 60 games this season.

In 39 home games this season, Andre Ethier is batting .347 with 6 HR and 29 RBI. Ethier is batting .200 in 20 day games this year.

James Loney, in 39 career regular season games against the Phillies, has a .350 average with 4 HR and 28 RBI.

Phillies team batting average in July- .240 (12th in the National League)

Dodgers team batting average in July- .237 (14th in the National League)
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