My Fellow Phans,
Don’t look now, but that fabulous time of year has started once again: Interleague Play. As many of you know, I have mixed emotions surrounding this yearly trend, but I will save those thoughts for another time.
So here, I present to you my series preview for the Rangers and Phillies at Citizens Bank Park this weekend.
Pitching Matchups:
Friday: C.J. Wilson (4-2 3.38) vs. Roy Halladay (5-3 2.21)
Halladay has been nothing short of brilliant this year. Sadly, due to a lack of run support, his record just sits at 5-3. He has pitched a pair of complete games in a row in his last two starts; both losses. The Phillies scored just 3 total runs in those games…After last season’s breakout season, Wilson has repeated his success thus far this season. He is a tough lefty looking for his 5th win on the season. He has pitched at least 7 innings in 5 of his last 6 starts. The only Phillies player with more than 2 at bats against him is Raul Ibanez, whom Wilson has held to a meager .059 average.
Saturday: Colby Lewis (4-4 3.81) vs. Cliff Lee (2-4 3.84)
Lee is coming off a shaky outing control-wise against the St.Louis Cardinals. He walked a career high 6 hitters in the defeat although he allowed just 3 runs in that game. His record doesn’t reflect how good Lee has been this season. Lee has only allowed more then 3 earned runs twice this season and has been 6 innings in all but one of his starts…Lewis has never faced the Phillies in his career. Last season, he played a critical role in helping the Rangers get to the World Series. Lewis is coming off of a brilliant 5-hit shutout against the Chicago White Soxs. In his last four starts, Lewis has gone 3-1 with a 1.67 ERA.
Sunday: Matt Harrison (3-4 4.27) vs. Roy Oswalt (3-1 3.09)
Oswalt made his first start since coming back off the DL. He pitched just 5 innings allowing a run on 7 hits while striking out 3. He has been one of the Phillies most consistent starters this season and looks to continue that start against Texas. In his last 3 starts, he has pitched to an 1-1 record with a 3.86 ERA…Harrison gave up just 3 runs in 7 innings of work in his last start against the White Soxs. He has never faced the Phillies and few batters in the lineup have any at-bats against him. He has pitched 6 innings in all but two of his starts in 2011.
Synopsis: I think the Phillies will go as far as the starting pitching takes them this season. The offense will not score a lot of runs this series, but if the pitching holds up, the Phillies have a chance to win this series. If the Rangers’ offense breaks out, then the Phillies will be looking at possibly another series loss. Let’s break this interleague season off on the right foot!
Until we meet again Phillies fans; Happy Readings and go Phillies!
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