Series Preview: Pirates at Phillies, April 22-25

Behind a rookie hurler, the Phillies (8-11) are set to open a four-game series against the Pirates (10-8) at Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park on Monday night. Read ahead for full details on the pitching match ups as well as other key stats for this series.

Jon Pettibone in action with Reading in 2012

Monday, 7:05 PM.  A.J. Burnett (1-2, 2.63 ERA) vs. Jonathan Pettibone (first MLB start).  In 19 career regular season games against the Phillies, Burnett has a 6-9 record along with a 5.09 ERA.  Ryan Howard is 3-for-14 (all three hits are home runs) in his career against Burnett.  The 36-year-old righty has a 4.86 ERA in seven career games at Citizens Bank Park.  The 22-year-old Pettibone was PhilliesNation.com's #6 ranked prospect prior to the season.  In two starts with Triple-A Lehigh Valley this year, Pettibone had a 0-1 record and a 9.64 ERA. Pettibone, who was the Phillies' 3rd round draft pick in 2008, is filling in for the injured John Lannan.

Tuesday, 7:05 PM.  Jeff Locke (1-1, 5.17 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (0-2, 6.46 ERA).  Locke, a 25-year-old lefty, has a 0-5 record and an 8.65 ERA in six career road starts.  Locke has never faced the Phillies before.  Hamels has a 7.82 ERA in two home starts this season.  Clint Barmes is 4-for-5 with two doubles and a homer in his career against Hamels.

Wednesday, 7:05 PM.  Wandy Rodriguez (2-0, 0.56 ERA) vs. Roy Halladay (2-2, 6.04 ERA).  In six career outings against the Phils, the lefty Rodriguez has a 2-2 record along with a 5.11 ERA.  Rodriguez has a 7.11 ERA in four career outings at Citizens Bank Park.  Jimmy Rollins is 6-for-15 (.400 avg) with a home run in his career against Rodriguez.  In six career starts against the Pirates, Halladay has a 4-1 record and a 0.98 ERA.  Andrew McCutchen is 1-for-10 (.100 avg) in his career against Halladay.

Thursday, 1:05 PM.  James McDonald (2-2, 4.12 ERA) vs. Cliff Lee (2-1, 2.83 ERA).  In six career games against the Phillies, McDonald has a 1-2 record with a 5.73 ERA and a .274 batting average against.  Chase Utley is 4-for-6 (.667 avg) with a homer against the right-handed McDonald.  Lee has a 1-0 record with a 3.05 ERA and a .192 batting average against in this career games against the Pirates.  Andrew McCutchen is 1-for-9 (.111 avg) against Lee in his career.


Shortstop Clint Barmes is batting .130 through 16 games this season and knocked in his first two runs of the year in Pittsburgh's 4-2 win over the Braves on Sunday.  Barmes is a .231 hitter in 35 career games against the Phils.

Pirates closer Jason Grilli has a 6.23 ERA in eight outings against the Phillies.  Grilli has not given up a run in nine appearances this season.

Garrett Jones is a .208 hitter with four home runs and 12 RBI in 23 career games against the Phils.  Jones is batted .333 in six road games this season.

In 42 games against the Pirates, Ryan Howard has a .228 average along with five homers and 33 RBI.

Michael Young, who is batting .333 this season, has hit safely in 12 straight games.  In 12 career games against the Pirates, Young has a .391 average with three homers and 11 RBI.

Antonio Bastardo has a 0.00 ERA in seven outings this year.  Bastardo has not given up a run in nine career appearances against the Pirates.

The Phillies won three of seven games against Pittsburgh last season.