Series Preview: Rockies at Phillies, September 7-9

The Phillies (66-71) will host the last place Rockies (56-80) in a three-game set this weekend.

In the series opener, the Phils will send lefty ace Cliff Lee, who has the opportunity to win three consecutive starts for the first time this season, to the mound. Colorado will counter with left-hander Jeff Francis, who allowed 1 run in 5 innings of work in a no decision when he last faced the Phillies in June.

The two clubs have equally split their six previous meetings this season.

To read more about the pitching match ups and other key statistical details on this series, read head.

Friday, 7:05 PM. Jeff Francis (5-4, 5.73 ERA) vs. Cliff Lee (4-7, 3.52 ERA). Lee is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in 2 career starts against the Rockies. In his last 4 starts, Lee has a 2-0 record with a 1.91 ERA. Lee has a 1-5 record with a 4.14 ERA in 11 starts at home this year. Francis is 2-0 with a 5.14 ERA in his last 6 starts. In 8 road starts this season, Francis has a 2-1 record with a 4.69 ERA. Jimmy Rollins is 7-for-15 (.467 avg) with a double and a HR in his career against Francis.

Saturday, 7:05 PM. Tyler Chatwood (4-4, 5.53 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (14-6, 3.04 ERA). Chatwood has a 1-2 record with a with a 5.82 ERA in 6 road games this season. The righty Chatwood was a 2nd draft pick by the Angles in 2008 and was acquired in last off-season's trade for Chris Iannetta. In 7 starts since the All-Star break, Chatwood is 3-3 with a 4.60 ERA. Hamels has a 3-0 record with a 2.15 ERA in his last 5 starts. In 12 home starts this season, Hamels has a 6-3 record with a 2.87 ERA. Hamels' next win would tie his career single season high from 2007.

Sunday, 1:35 PM. Drew Pomeranz (1-8, 4.93 ERA) vs. Tyler Cloyd (1-1, 2.77 ERA). Pomeranz is 1-3 with a 4.86 ERA in 8 road starts this season. The lefty Pomeranz hasn't won since July 6th, a span of 10 starts. Opponents are batting .224 against the rookie right-hander Cloyd since his promotion to the big leagues. Cloyd was an 18th round draft pick by the Phillies in 2008.

Carlos Gonzalez has an offensive line of .377/.444/.627 in 63 home games this year while he has posted a .235/.308/.416 line in 59 road games this season. Gonzalez's career OPS splits are .269 lower on the road than at Coors Field.

Rookie catcher Wilin Rosario has a team high 23 HR this season. In 4 career games against the Phillies, Rosario has a .375 batting average with 3 HR and 8 RBI.

Colorado closer Rafael Betancourt has a 0.75 ERA in 25 road games this season. Betancourt has posted a 0-1 record with 1 save, 1 blown save and a 1.23 ERA in 7 career outings against the Phillies.

Jimmy Rollins has posted a .228 batting average in 50 games since the All-Star break. In 71 career regular season games against the Rockies, Rollins has a .311 batting average with 8 HR and 35 RBI in 71 games.

In 61 home games this season, John Mayberry Jr. has posted a .270 average with 7 HR and 20 RBI. Mayberry is batting .289 in 47 games since the All-Star break.

In 46 regular season games against Colorado, Chase Utley has a .348 batting average with 12 HR and 60 RBI. Utley has a .906 OPS in 30 home games this season.

Rockies team OPS since the All-Star break- .753 (12th in MLB)
Phillies team OPS since the All-Star break- .702 (23rd in MLB)

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