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May was a top Phillies prospect The Phillies made a deal on Thursday to fill a defensive gap in center field, acquiring speedster Ben Revere from the Twins for starting pitcher Vance Worley and pitching prospect Trevor May . Revere, a 24-year-old lefty hitter, posted a .294 batting average along with 40 stolen bases in 124 games for Minnesota last season. The right-handed Worley sports an 18-13 record along with a 3.50 ERA in 53 big league contests.  The 25-year-old was the selected by the Phillies in the 3rd round of the 2008 draft. May, also a right-hander was ranked as the Phillies' top prospect by PhilliesNation.com in this year's preseason prospect rankings.  The Phils' 4th round draft choice in 2008, sported a 10-13 record with a 4.87 ERA and a 9.08 K/9 mark with Double-A Reading this year. According May, who was not surprised to be included in the deal, he was notified that the trade was agreed upon by Phils general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., who c...

Winners of four straight games the Phillies (61-67) will host the Metropolitans (59-69) for a three-game series beginning on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park. The Phils have been performing well lately, sweeping three games from the first place Nationals over the weekend, while the Mets have lost seven of their past 10 contests. In the series opener, the Phillies will start righty hurler Vance Worley , who has lost both of his starts against New York this season, to the tune of a 9.00 ERA. The visitors will counter with Chris Young , who has a 1.86 ERA against the Phillies, as a member of the Mets. The Phils have dropped eight of 12 contests against the Mets this season. Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups and loads more statistical info on this series. Tuesday, 7:05 PM. Chris Young (3-7, 4.33 ERA) vs. Vance Worley (6-9, 4.06 ERA). In 8 career outings against the Phillies, Young is 3-3 with a 3.42 ERA. Young has a 1-5 record with a 5.11 ERA in 8 starts since ...

The Phillies (54-63) continue their road trip on Thursday when they head to Milwaukee to begin a four-game series against the Brewers (52-64). Both teams have struggled this year and find themselves placed distantly back in the standings as the season begins to approach its final month. The Brewers have dropped five of their past six contests, while the Phillies have been victorious in four of their past six games. In the series opener, the Phillies will send lefty Cliff Lee , who surrendered 6 earned runs in 7 innings of work against Milwaukee in a start on July 24th, to the mound. The Brewers will counter with right-hander Marco Estrada , who hasn't recorded a big league win since August 23rd, 2011. Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups and other key statistical info from this series. Thursday, 8:10 PM. Cliff Lee (2-7, 3.85 ERA) vs. Marco Estrada (0-5, 4.36 ERA). In 4 career starts against the Brewers, Lee has a 0-1 record with a 5.54 ERA. Lee has a 3.21 ERA i...

The Braves (62-46) travel to Philadelphia to begin a three-game series with the Phillies (49-59) on Monday night at Citizens Bank Park. In the past month, the two clubs have faced each other in two separate series, with the Braves winning all six of the contests. Atlanta’s recent dominance over the Phils is the opposite of how things went last season, when the Phillies handed the Braves six losses toward the end of the 2011 season. Those defeats shut the door on Atlanta’s postseason hopes. Read ahead for notes on the pitching the match ups and additional statistical information on this series. Monday, 7:05 PM. Ben Sheets (3-1, 1.46 ERA) vs. Vance Worley (6-6, 3.63 ERA). In 9 career starts against the Phillies, Sheets has a 3-4 record with a 4.50 ERA. Ty Wigginton is 12-for-36 (.333 avg) with 2 doubles and 2 HR in his career against Sheets. The righty Sheets was the Brewers' 1st round draft pick in 1999. In his last 5 starts, Worley has a 2-1 record with a 4.06 ERA. In 9 home s...

On the last day of the non-waiver trading deadline, the Phillies (45-57) are all set to take whatever players might remain on the roster and begin a three-game series against the Nationals (61-40). With rumors of last minute deals running rampant, the only thing players like Hunter Pence , Shane Victorino and Juan Pierre can do is wait to learn which uniform they'll be wearing in the coming days. Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups and other key statistical notes from this series. Tuesday, 7:05 PM. Cliff Lee (1-6, 3.95 ERA) vs. Stephen Strasburg (11-4, 2.76 ERA). In his career against the Nationals, Lee has posted a 3-2 record with a 2.89 ERA and a .257 batting average against. Lee has a 1-2 record with a 3.54 ERA in 10 road starts this season. Danny Espinosa is 7-for-10 (.700 avg) with a double and 3 HR in his career against Lee. Strasburg has no decisions and a 3.48 ERA in 2 career starts against the Philles. In 9 home starts this year, Strasburg ha...

The National League West division leading Giants (51-41) head to Philadelphia this weekend to take on the Phillies (41-52) in a 3-game series. Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups and other statistical info on this series. Friday, 7:05 PM. Tim Lincecum (3-10, 5.93 ERA) vs. Vance Worley (5-5, 3.47 ERA). In 10 road starts this season, Lincecum has a 1-6 record with a 9.00 ERA. Hunter Pence is 5-for-29 (.172 avg) in his career against Lincecum. In 2 career regular season starts against the Giants, Worley has a 2-0 record and a 2.25 ERA. Worley has a 2-2 record with 4.07 ERA in 7 home starts this season. Saturday, 4:05 PM. Matt Cain (10-3, 2.56 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (11-4, 3.07 ERA). In 8 career regular season starts, Cain has posted a 1-4 record with a 3.42 ERA. Cain has a 1-1 record with a 3.37 ERA in his last 4 starts. Hamels has a 5-3 record with a 2.76 ERA and a .228 BAA in 9 home starts this season. In his last 4 starts, Hamels is 1-1 with a 2.48 ERA. ...

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 ...

The last place Phillies (37-47) have yet to find a cure for their struggles this season. Returning from injury, Ryan Howard (left Achilles tendon) may offer a solution. The former National League Most Valuable Player has averaged more than 36 HR and over 121 RBI per year over the past three seasons for the Phils. This weekend the Phillies will host the division rival Atlanta Braves (43-39) in a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park. Atlanta dropped two of three meetings with the Phillies when the two teams met earlier this season. Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups and more statistical notes on this series. Friday, 7:05 PM. Tim Hudson (6-4, 3.87 ERA) vs. Kyle Kendrick (2-8, 5.35 ERA). In 5 road starts this year, Hudson has a 3-1 record with a 2.34 ERA. Hudson is 1-3 with a 4.30 ERA in 6 career starts at Citizens Bank Park. Ryan Howard is 17-for-52 (.327 avg) with 6 HR and 14 RBI in his career against Hudson. In his last 5 starts, Kendrick has a 0-4 record...

The Phillies (36-45) travel to New York to take on the Metropolitans (43-37) in a three-game series beginning Tuesday night. Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups and other statistical notes. Tuesday, 7:10 PM. Vance Worley (4-4, 2.92 ERA) vs. Jonathan Niese (6-3, 3.55 ERA). In 7 career outings against the Mets, Worley has a 3-2 record with a 3.60 ERA. Worley has a 1.89 ERA in 6 road starts this season. Lucas Duda is 3-for-7 (.429 avg) with a double and a home run against Worley in his career. The left-handed Niese is 3-1 with a 3.74 ERA in 7 home starts this season. In 11 career starts against the Phils, Niese has a 4-4 record with a 3.86 ERA. John Mayberry Jr. is 7-for-22 (.318 avg) with a double and 3 HR in his career against Niese. Wednesday, 1:10 PM. Kyle Kendrick (2-8, 5.35 ERA) vs. Chris Young (2-1, 3.30 ERA). Kendrick is 4-7 with a 3.68 ERA in 17 career games against the Mets. In 6 June starts, Kendrick posted a 1-4 record with a 6.96 ERA. Young...

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...

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...

Fresh off a series loss to division rival Miami, the Phillies (28-27) will host the team with the best record in the National League when the Dodgers (33-21) visit to start a four-game series at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies were hit with another blow to their active roster over the weekend, as reliever Jose Contreras suffered a complete tear of the ulnar collateral ligament and a flexor pronator tear during his most recent outing.  Contreras, who is expected to miss the remainder of the season, joins a lengthy disabled list for the Phils that includes Chase Utley , Ryan Howard , Mike Stutes and Roy Halladay .  The Phillies look forward to some aid, however, as righty starting pitcher Vance Worley will be activated to start the series opener on Monday. Last season the Phillies took five of six meetings with the Dodgers.  Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups and other statistical notes on this series. Monday, 7:05 PM.  Clayton Kershaw...

The Phillies (18-19) are set to hit the road for the 2 games that break up a stretch in which they play 14 of 16 games at home, as they head to Chicago to face the Cubs (15-21).   For the second time this season, righty Kyle Kendrick will fill in for an injured member of the Phils' starting rotation and face Cubs hurler Matt Garza.  Last time, Kendrick pitched in place of Cliff Lee, while he takes Vance Worley's turn this time around.  Worley is slated to miss a start, as he deals with soreness in his throwing arm. The switch could be a break for Chicago, as Worley has been a strong contributor (3-1, 2.81 ERA in his last 5 games) for the Phillies while Kendrick has struggled greatly this year. Last season, the Phillies won 2 of 3 meetings with the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Read ahead for more information on the pitching match ups for this series and well as many more statistical nuggets. Wednesday, 8:05 PM. Kyle Kendrick (0-3, 7.32 ERA) vs. Matt Garza (2-1, 2.56...

It's been a number of years since the Phillies (14-18) were 4 games under .500 at this stage of the season.  That happened in 2007, to be precise, and that year marked the beginning of the club's streak of 5 consecutive National League East division titles.  The Phillies hope to bounce back in the same way they did back then, as they take on the San Diego Padres, who, at 11-21, sport the worst record in the NL. The two teams begin a three-game series on Friday evening. To open the series, the Padres will send lefty hurler Clayton Richard to the mound.  Richard has lost his last 4 starts.  The Phillies will counter with righty Vance Worley , who is fresh off his worst outing of the season when he surrendered 5 earned runs in 6 innings pitched against Washington last Saturday. The Phillies won 3 of 4 meetings with San Diego at Citizens Bank Park last season. Read ahead for more information on the pitching match ups for this series as well as plenty more stat...

The Nationals' efforts to take back their park have earned big time attention from the media and fans alike, but for the teams on the field it will simply be the first of several series this season against a formidable division rival. In that division, the National League East, Washington and Philadelphia have reversed roles, somewhat, as the Nationals (16-9) have steadily been considerably far back in the standings in recent years, behind the Phillies (13-13).  However, now, it is the five-time defending division champions that find themselves in 4th place 3 1/2 games behind the division leading Nats. As the clubs begin a 3-game series, the Phillies will send right-hander Kyle Kendrick , who will be making his third start in place of injured ace Cliff Lee , to the mound for the series opener.  He'll be faced by the Nationals' top hurler Stephen Strasburg , who was drafted first overall by Washington back in 2009. Last season, the Nationals won the season series a...