The second half of the season kicks off this weekend when the last place Phillies (37-50), who have high hopes of turning their season around, visit Colorado's Coors Field and take on the Rockies (33-52), in a 3-game series. Colorado is also in last place in the National League West division.Champions of the N.L. East division in each of the past five years, the Phillies' record is the worst it has been at the All-Star Break since 1997, when the club possessed a 24-61 record.
The Phillies won four of five meetings with the Rockies last season, including all three in Colorado.
Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups and loads more statistical notes from this upcoming series.
Friday, 8:40 PM. Cliff Lee (1-5, 3.98 ERA) vs. Christian Friedrich (4-6, 5.98 ERA). In 8 road starts this season, Lee has posted a 1-1 record with a 3.95 ERA. Lee is 1-2 with a 6.07 ERA over his last 4 starts. Michael Cuddyer is 10-for-33 (.303 avg) with 3 doubles and 3 HR in his career against Lee. The lefty Friedrich has a 1-3 record with a 9.62 ERA and a .389 batting average against in 5 home starts this season. Friedrich was the Rockies' 1st round draft pick in 2008. In his last 6 starts, Friedrich has a 0-5 record with a 7.58 ERA.
Saturday, 8:10 PM. Vance Worley (4-5, 3.54 ERA) vs. Jeremy Guthrie (3-8, 6.05 ERA). In 7 road starts this season, Worley is 2-3 with a 3.00 ERA. Worley is 1-3 with a 4.05 ERA in his last 7 starts. Opponents are batting .267 against Worley this season. Guthrie is 1-0 with a 0.90 ERA in 2 career games against the Phillies. In 7 home outings this year, the right-handed Guthrie has a 1-4 record with a 9.44 ERA. Guthrie was a 1st round draft choice of the Indians in 2002. Placido Polanco is 1-for-12 (.083 avg) in his career against Guthrie.
Sunday, 3:10 PM. Cole Hamels (10-4, 3.20 ERA) vs. Drew Pomeranz (1-3, 3.06 ERA). In 4 career regular season starts against the Rockies, Hamels has a 2-1 record with a 4.21 ERA. Hamels is 1-1 with a 2.79 ERA in his last 4 starts. Marco Scutaro is 3-for-18 (.083 avg) in his career against Hamels. Pomeranz, a lefty, was the Indians' 1st round draft selection in 2010. In 4 home starts this year, Pomeranz is 0-2 with a 3.00 ERA. Aside from his initial start this season, when Pomeranz allowed 5 earned runs in 4 1/3 innings against Arizona, the 23-year-old has posted a 2.03 ERA in 2012.
In 36 road games this season, Carlos Ruiz has tallied a .378 batting average with 7 HR and 25 RBI. Ruiz is a .320 hitter in 9 career regular season game at Coors Field.
Hunter Pence is batting .310 in 42 road games this season. In 32 career games against the Rockies, Pence has a .298 average with 2 HR and 15 RBI.
In 44 regular season games against Colorado, Chase Utley has a .347 batting average with 13 doubles, 1 triple, 12 HR and 57 RBI. The Phillies are just 1-9 with Utley in the lineup, since the 33-year-old returned from a knee ailment last month.
Michael Cuddyer, in 7 career games against the Phillies, is 3-for-28 (.107 avg) with 1 HR. Cuddyer is batting .283 in 43 home games this season.
In 87 career regular season games against the Phils, Todd Helton has posted a .360 batting average with 17 homers and 62 RBI. Helton, a left-handed batter, is batting .195 against lefty pitchers this season.
Rockies closer Rafael Betancourt is 1-2 with 5 saves, 3 blown saves and a 5.06 ERA in 16 home games this season.
Carlos Gonzalez's OPS is .388 points higher at home than it is on the road this season.
Phillies team ERA- 4.23 (12th in the National League)
Rockies team ERA- 5.26 (16th, last in the National League)
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