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The surging Diamondbacks (54-51), winners of 10 of their past 13 contests, head to Philadelphia to begin a three-game weekend set against the last place Phillies (47-58) on Friday. Less than two weeks ago, Arizona was 7 games back in the National League West division, but their hot streak paired with rough stretches by San Francisco and Los Angeles have allowed the D-Backs to creep upward into contention and they now reside just 2 games out of first place. The Phils are fresh off a series win on the road against the first place Nationals, but dropped the series finale on Thursday, 3-0. In the opener of this series, Arizona will send right-hander Ian Kennedy, a former 1st round draft pick of the Yankees, to the mound. The Phillies will counter with righty Joe Blanton, who has struggled at home of late, posting a 6.05 ERA in his last 6 starts at Citizens Bank Park. Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups and other key statistical notes for this series. Friday, 7:05 PM. Ian Kenne...

With their newly extended lefty ace in tow, the Phillies (45-54) hit the road and visit the Braves (54-44) to begin a three-game set on Friday night at Turner Field in Atlanta. This week, the Phils signed their three-time All-Star and former World Series Most Valuable Player Cole Hamels to a six-year $144 million pact. Hamels was the team's 1st round draft selection back in 2002 and he'll start the series opener. The Phillies will begin the road trip without third baseman Placido Polanco , who was placed on the disabled list with back inflammation, retroactive to July 23rd. International League hit leader Kevin Frandsen was promoted from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to fill Polanco's void on the big league roster. Read ahead for information on the pitching match ups and plenty more details for this series. Friday, 7:35 PM. Cole Hamels (11-4, 3.23 ERA) vs. Ben Sheets (2-0, 0.00 ERA). In his last 5 starts, Hamels is 1-1 with a 3.19 ERA. Hamels has a 6-1 record with a 3....

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...

F ollowing a 5-5 homestand, the Phillies (36-42) hit the road to begin a 3-game series against the division rival Marlins (35-40) in Miami beginning Friday night. In the series opener, Cliff Lee will take the mound, still seeking his first win of the season. At the same point last year, Lee had already notched 9 victories. The Marlins will counter with right-hander Josh Johnson , who gave up 1 run and just 2 hits over 7 innings in his latest start last Saturday against Toronto. Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups and other key statistical notes from this series. Friday, 7:10 PM. Cliff Lee (0-4, 3.72 ERA) vs. Josh Johnson (4-5, 3.96 ERA). Cliff Lee has posted a 5.19 ERA in his last 4 road starts. In 5 career starts against the Marlins, Lee has a 2-0 record with a 2.31 ERA. Lee has a 3.18 ERA in 8 night starts this season. In 15 career games against the Phillies, Johnson has a 5-4 record with a 3.68 ERA. Johnson is 3-3 with a 3.41 ERA in 9 home starts this s...

While the Phillies (34-40) struggle, trying to get on any sort of roll, they'll host the Pirates (38-33) in a 4-game series beginning Monday night at Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park. Fresh off being swept in a double header by Tampa Bay on Sunday, the Philllies, who are the reigning five-time National League East division champions, are currently sitting in last place. Meanwhile, the Pirates, who haven't had a winning record since 1992, sit just 1 game back of the Reds for the top spot in the NL Central division. The Phillies swept the Pirates in three games last season at Citizens Bank Park. Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups and other statistical info on this series. Monday, 7:05 PM. Jeff Karstens (0-1, 4.50) vs. Joe Blanton (6-6, 5.04 ERA). The right-handed Karstens will be returning from the disabled list, as he has been sidelined since April with a shoulder strain. In 6 career games against the Phillies, Karstens has no decisions and a 3.09 ERA. Kars...

Beginning on Tuesday night, the Phillies (31-37) and the Rockies (25-40) will begin a three-game series that will enable the remainder of Major League Baseball to continue inter-league play. The odd teams out will be the only teams not facing an opponent from the opposite league. Last season the Phillies won 4 of 5 meetings with the Rockies. Overall, the Phils have also taken 20 of the past 24 meetings with Colorado. For a review of the pitching match ups and other details on this series, read ahead. Tuesday, 7:05 PM. Josh Outman (0-2, 8.44 ERA) Cole Hamels (9-3, 3.34 ERA). Outman, a former Phillies farm hand, has faced the Phils just once, taking a loss when he allowed 3 earned runs in 6 innings. Outman, a lefty, will be starting his 4th game of the season. Hamels has a 6.07 ERA over his last 4 starts. In 3 career regular season starts against Colorado, Hamels has a 1-1 record with a 5.09 ERA. In 7 home starts this season, Hamels has a 4-3 record with a 3.26 ERA. Wednesday, 7:0...

Inter-league play continues as the Phillies (29-33) travel to Minnesota to take on the Twins (24-35) in a three-game series beginning on Tuesday night. Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups as well as plenty more statistics from this series. Tuesday, 8:05 PM. Kyle Kendrick (2-5, 4.44 ERA) vs. Nick Blackburn (2-4, 7.75 ERA). In 7 road outings this season, Kendrick has posted a 1-1 record with a 3.42 ERA. Over his last 5 starts, Kendrick has tallied a 2.73 ERA. Blackburn allowed 8 earned runs in 1 2/3 innings in his lone career outing against the Phillies. In 4 home starts this season, Blackburn is 1-2 with a 7.92 ERA. Wednesday, 8:10 PM.  Cole Hamels (8-3, 2.93 ERA) vs. P.J. Walters (2-1, 4.42 ERA).   Hamels has a 4-0 record with a 2.50 ERA in 5 road starts this season. In his last 3 starts, Hamels has posted a 5.22 ERA.  Ryan Doumit is 3-for-9 with 2 doubles in his career against Hamels.  The righty Walters is 0-1 with a 4.76 ERA ...

Interleague play returns as two teams with similar recent success and completely opposite spots in the standings meet for a three-game series this weekend.  The Orioles (32-25), who have lost 8 of their last 11 games, sit atop the American League East division (tied with Tampa Bay).  Beginning Friday, they will host the Phillies (28-31), who have dropped 6 straight games and are in last place in the National League East division. While the Phillies have struggled considerably all season, the club has a winning record of 16-12 on the road. In the opener of the series, the clubs will send two struggling hurlers to the mound as Joe Blanton , who has surrendered 10 home runs in 19 2/3 innings over his last 4 starts, takes on right-hander Jake Arrieta , who has lost three consecutive starts. Read ahead for more details on the pitching match ups and plenty more details for this series.  Friday, 7:05 PM.  Joe Blanton (4-6, 5.27 ERA) vs. Jake Arrieta (2-7, 5.5...

It's Memorial Day, so here's an abbreviated edition of the typical PhoulBallz series preview, focused on the pitching match ups for the upcoming three-game set between the Phillies and the Metropolitans. Monday 1:10 PM.  Cole Hamels (7-1, 2.17 ERA) vs. Jonathan Niese (3-2, 4.29 ERA).  In his last 8 starts, Hamels is 7-0 with a 1.89 ERA.  Hamels has a 4-10 record with a 4.33 ERA in 18 career starts against the Mets.  In 7 career starts at Citi Field, Hamels is 1-4 with a 4.43 ERA.  Niese is 1-0 with a 3.79 ERA and a .186 batting average against.  In 10 career starts against the Phillies, Niese is 4-4 with a 3.58 ERA. Placido Polanco is 11-for-26 (.423 avg) with 5 doubles in his career against Niese. Tuesday, 7:10 PM.  Joe Blanton (4-4, 4.55 ERA) vs. Jeremy Hefner (0-2, 6.17 ERA). In 10 career starts against the Mets, Blanton has a 3-1 record with a 3.71 ERA.  Blanton has allowed 13 earned runs in 8 2/3 innings (13.49 ERA) in his l...

Last season the St. Louis Cardinals ousted the Philadelphia Phillies from the postseason, en route to a surprising World Series victory.  In the first rematch between the two teams, since that National League Division Series which the Cards won 3-2, the Phillies will visit St. Louis' Busch Stadium to begin a four-game series on Thursday night. Currently, the Cardinals (25-19) have maintained the level of success that took them deep into the October playing schedule last year, as they hold the top spot in the National League Central division, despite losing top slugger Albert Pujols to free agency, following their 2012 title run.  Meanwhile, the Phillies (22-23) have been missing a pair of injured stars, namely Ryan Howard and Chase Utley , and haven't been able to stay atop the NL East division that they have won each of the past five season. Philadelphia currently occupies the bottom spot in the five-team division. Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups a...

Jonathan Papelbon , who signed a $50 million four-year contract with Philadelphia this past off-season after becoming a household name in the Boston organization, expects to see action against his former team for the very first time this weekend.  The Phillies (20-19) will host the Red Sox (18-20) for a three-game series beginning Friday night at Citizens Bank Park to kick off 2012 inter-league play. Papelbon has transitioned easily into the National League, where he has successfully converted all 11 save opportunities with the Phils this season.  In his regular season career, Papelbon has converted 88.8% of his save chances. Boston and Philadelphia are perennial favorites for playoff spots each season, but both have run into difficult times in the early going, this season, as they have been plagued with injuries to injured stars like Carl Crawford , Jacoby Ellsbury , Chase Utley , Ryan Howard and others.  Both teams are in last place in their respective divis...

The Phillies (16-19) will try to get on a roll and win consecutive games for the first time this month as they host the Astros (15-19) for a quick two-game series at Citizens Bank Park. In the series opener, the Phillies will sent righty hurler Joe Blanton , who has not lost at Citizens Bank Park since May 14th, 2011, to the mound.  The Astros will counter with right-hander Lucas Harrell , who has never faced the Phillies before. The Astros were swept by the Phillies in their 3-game series in Philadelphia last year. Read ahead for more details on the pitching match ups for this series as well as plenty more statistical info. Monday, 7:05 PM.  Lucas Harrell (2-2, 4.58 ERA) vs. Joe Blanton (3-3, 3.24 ERA). Harrell has posted a 0-2 record with a 6.23 ERA in 4 road starts this season.  Harrell is 1-2 with a 6.23 ERA in his last 4 starts.  In 24 career big league games, opponents have posted a .300 batting average against Harrell.  Blanton is 1-0 with...

After a brief homestand, the Phillies head back on the road and travel to Atlanta to begin a 3-game series against the Braves.  It will be the first match up between the two teams since the Phillies swept the Braves in the closing series of the 2011 season to force Atlanta to miss the postseason. The Phillies won 12 of 18 meetings with the Braves last season, including the last 7 contests. Read ahead for loads of info on the pitching match ups for this series and plenty more. Tuesday, 7:10 PM. Cole Hamels (3-1, 2.73 ERA) vs. Brandon Beachy (2-1, 1.05 ERA). Hamels has an 11-6 record with a 3.72 ERA in 24 career outings against the Braves. In 12 career appearances at Turner Field, Hamels has a 4.16 ERA. Dan Uggla is 8-for-50 (.160 avg) with 2 doubles and 2 homeruns in his career against Hamels. In 6 career starts against the Phillies, Beachy is 0-3 with a 3.94 ERA and a .286 batting average against. Beachy is 4-2 with a 3.63 ERA in 15 career starts at Turner Field. Shane Vict...

The Phillies (9-10) return from a season-long ten-game road trip to begin a four-game series against the Cubs (6-13).  While the five-time defending National League East division champion Phillies have not lived up to expectations thus far this season, the remedy could be a series against a Cubs team that has won just 1 game on the road this season. Thus far in 2012, the Phils have struggled offensively, ranking near the bottom of the list, as a team, in nearly every offensive category.  The Cubs, who rank dead last in the Major Leagues with just 7 homeruns this season, have done just as poorly, if not worse. In the series opener, the Phillies will send their ace Roy Halladay, who got just 1 run of support and took his first loss of the season in his last outing, to the mound.  The Cubs will counter with lefty Paul Maholm, who is considerably hot and cold when facing Philadelphia.  In his career against the Phils, Maholm has made 4 starts in which he has ...

Last year, the Phillies dominated the Padres, winning 7 of 8 games between the two clubs, including all 4 that were played in San Diego. This year, fresh off a disappointing loss Wednesday night to the Giants, despite 10 scoreless innings from Cliff Lee, the Phillies limp into Petco Park in an unfamiliar position...for the first time in nearly five years, Philadelphia has sole possession of last place in the National League East division. The Padres (3-10) are also holding down last place, in the NL West. Hoping to turn things around, the Phils (5-7) will send 24-year-old right-hander Vance Worley to the mound. Worley sports a 12-5 record and a 2.93 ERA in his big league career. San Diego will counter with 22-year-old righty Joe Wieland, who was acquired, along with pitcher Robbie Erlin, from Texas for Mike Adams last July. Read ahead for more details on the pitching match ups and loads more stats from this series. Thursday, 10:05 PM. Vance Worley (0-1, 3.75 ERA) vs. Joe Wieland (0-...

Each team will send its top hurler to the mound in the opener of a 3-games series on Monday night, although just one of the two has pitched like an ace thus far in 2012. Philadelphia's perennial Cy Young Award contender Roy Halladay will take the mound at San Francisco's AT&T Park against the Giants in game 1. Halladay is coming off two great outings against the Pirates and the Marlins to begin the season. The Giants will counter with two-time former National League Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum , who is fresh off the shortest outing of his career, after allowing 6 earned runs in 2 1/3 innings against the Rockies on April 11th. This will mark the pair's first meeting in the regular season. The Phillies won 4 of 7 meetings with the Giants last season, including 3 of 4 in San Francisco. Read ahead for more details on the pitching match ups and loads more stats for this series. Monday, 10:15 PM. Roy Halladay (2-0, 0.60 ERA) vs. Tim Lincecum (0-1, 12.91 ERA). In 3 ca...