Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Posted: 12:30 p.m.
CSNPhilly.com
Phillies (23-12) at Marlins (21-14), 7:10 p.m. on CSN
Starting Pitchers
Phillies: Cliff Lee (2-3, 3.69)The lefty is 0-2 in his last three starts, though the Phillies have scored a total of one run in those three outings. They were shut out by Atlanta in his last start, a 5-0 loss on Friday in which Lee set a career high and a major league season high with 16 strikeouts in seven innings.
Marlins: Ricky Nolasco (3-0, 3.23)The right-hander has yet to lose in seven starts this season, and he has allowed three runs or fewer in six of those outings. Last season, Nolasco allowed one run in a complete game five-hitter in his only start vs. Philadelphia to improve to 6-3 lifetime against the Phillies.
Previous games
The Phillies won the series opener before dropping Tuesdays contest, 2-1. Roy Halladay allowed an unearned run in the eighth inning and ultimately paid the price for a third-inning walk to opposing pitcher Josh Johnson. Raul Ibanez had two of the Phillies six hits in a losing effort.
Head-to-head
The Phillies split a rain-shortened, two-game series with the Marlins last month. The bullpen blew a lead for Roy Oswalt in the opener before the Phils rallied in the second contest behind Ryan Howards go-ahead sac fly in the eighth.
Prior to Tuesday's loss, the Phillies had won 18 of their last 21 games in Miami.
MLB
Whos hot?
Ibanez has six multi-hit games in his last eight contests, this coming off an 0-for-35 skid. ... Shane Victorino has a 13-game hitting streak. ... Ryan Madson hasn't allowed a run in his last eight appearances and has not given up a home run all season.
For Florida, Chris Coghlan has six hits and three walks in his last three contests. ... Ex-Phillie Brian Sanches has a 1.53 ERA in 13 appearances out of the Marlins bullpen. ... Greg Dobbs, believe it or not, is batting .338 on the season.
Storylines
Several Phillies have horrible career numbers against Nolasco. Howard is 5-for-23 against him, while Victorino is 4-for-23.The only two Marlins with significant at-bats against Lee both have good numbers against him. John Buck is 12-for-34 (.353) with three home runs, while Omar Infante is 8-for-23 (.348). ... The Phillies, in the midst of a stretch against tough opponents, do not want to drop back-to-back series to the Braves and Marlins. ... Can they finally score some runs for Lee, who has deserved a better fate through the season's first month?
Sound off
Do you expect the Marlins to be the Phillies toughest competition in the NL East this season?