Phillies (78-42) vs. Diamondbacks (69-53), 7:05 p.m. on CSN
Starting Pitchers
Phillies: Cliff Lee (12-7, 2.83) gets the nod for the Phillies, having thrown 17 scoreless innings to this point in the month. He blanked the Dodgers over eight innings on August 9 in his last outing. Lee faced Arizona on April 25 and allowed four runs in seven innings - though he did strike out 12 - in a 4-0 defeat.
Diamondbacks: Joe Saunders (8-9, 3.76) goes for Arizona. The veteran lefty pitched against the Phils on April 27, allowing six runs in 5 23 innings of an 8-4 loss. He had gone 10 straight starts allowing three earned runs or fewer prior to Thursday, when he yielded five runs in six innings against Houston.
Previous games
The Phillies lost the series opener, 3-2, as Roy Halladay struck out 14 batters but also allowed the go-ahead, two-run double to Lyle Overbay in the ninth inning. Shane Victorino's two-run homer accounted for the Phils' only runs.
Head-to-head
The Phillies are 1-3 against the Diamondbacks this season. This is the last series of the season between the two teams, though they would meet in the NLDS if the playoffs started today.
Whos hot?
Chase Utley was 3-for-4 with a double on Tuesday and has his average up to .285. ... Victorino has hit safely in six straight games. ... For Arizona, Gerardo Parra over his last seven games is batting 9-for-23 (.391) with two doubles and a triple.
Storylines
Arizona has 35 come-from-behind wins this season and has won seven games in a row overall. ... The Phillies have lost just three of their last 16 games. ... Raul Ibanez is 8-for-23 (.348) with two homers lifetime against Saunders. ... Ben Francisco is 5-for-11 with two doubles against him. ... RHP Michael Schwimer could make his major league debut for the Phils tonight. The 25-year-old reliever, who was just called up to the big leagues, was 9-1 with a 1.88 ERA and 10 saves for Lehigh Valley.
Sound off
How do you think Placido Polanco and the Phillies have handled his latest injury? Do you think the team should have made a decision by now? Is surgery the way to go on his sports hernia?
