Tuesday, May 16, 2011
Posted: 12:30 p.m.
CSNPhilly.com
Phillies (25-15) at Cardinals (23-19), 8:10 p.m. on CSN
Starting Pitchers
Phillies: Roy Oswalt (3-1, 3.33) - The right-hander hasn't started in the majors since April 26, when he gave up five runs in three innings of a loss to Arizona. Since then, Oswalt has spent time on the DL with a lower back injury. He is 9-8 with a 3.19 ERA in 28 career games against the Cardinals.
Cardinals: Jaime Garcia (5-0, 1.89) - The Cards' lefty has been one of the best pitchers in the majors this season. He has allowed just two homers in 52 13 innings and has given up two earned runs or fewer in six of his eight starts. He has a 1.80 ERA in 15 lifetime innings against the Phils.
Previous games
The Phillies lost the opener of the two-game set on Monday night, dropping a 3-1 decision in which Cliff Lee walked a career-high six batters. Ben Francisco's RBI single accounted for the Phillies' only run on the night.
Head-to-head
This series is the first meeting between the Cardinals and Phillies this season. After this brief two-game set, the Phillies return to St. Louis on June 21-23. The Cardinals dont visit Citizens Bank Park until mid-September.
MLB
Whos hot?
Jimmy Rollins has at least one hit in eight of his last nine games, collecting 10 total hits, three doubles and a home run over that span. Ryan Madson has thrown 10 straight innings of relief without allowing a run, surrendering just five hits and striking out 12 batters since the streak began on April 20.
For St. Louis, Jon Jay has seven hits in his last 15 at-bats, totaling seven of his nine RBIs for the season over that span. In his last two starts, Garcia has allowed just one earned run on 11 hits in 16 innings.
Storylines
Oswalt's health will be in the spotlight tonight after he acknowledged recently that he's not sure how it will respond after rest and rehab. ... When is the Phillies' offense going to wake up? Or is this simply the type of offense that they are? ... Will Cards star Albert Pujols return to third base tonight after starting there last night for the first time since 2002?
Sound off
Which one Phillie are you most concerned about, right now?
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