Phillies-Dodgers 5 things: Rollins faces former club

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Phillies (28-56) at Dodgers (46-37)
10:10 p.m., CSN

The Phillies snapped a six-game losing streak and avoided a sweep on Sunday afternoon with a 4-0 win over the Braves.

After being shutout for the first nine innings, the Phils erupted for four runs in the 10th. Ryan Howard drove in the winning run on a sacrifice fly, and Carlos Ruiz blew the game open with a two-run double. Freddy Galvis knocked in Ruiz with a single to give the Phils their fourth run.

Jonathan Papelbon pitched a perfect 10th to close the door in a non-save situation.

The Phillies nearly wasted another stellar outing for Cole Hamels. The lefty ace lowered his ERA to 3.02 with seven shutout innings on Sunday. He continues to make himself look attractive to contenders in need of starting pitching.

The team sets out for a seven-game West Coast swing that begins tonight against the Dodgers. It also marks the first time former Phillies' SS Jimmy Rollins will face his old ball club.

Old face, new place
For the first time in his career, Rollins will take the field in a Phillies' game not wearing their uniform. Instead, the former 15-year Phillies' vet will suit up in Dodger blue.

Rollins had quite an impressive tenure with the Phillies organization. He set the franchise's record for most career hits last June and finished with 2,306 overall before being traded to the Dodgers in December. The 36-year-old shortstop also finished first in Phillies' history with 479 doubles, top three in runs scored (1,325), triples (111) and stolen bases (453), and captured the NL MVP in 2007.

This season, Rollins is batting only .208 with seven homers and 24 RBIs in 79 games.

Needing a good start
The Phillies' starting pitching woes are no secret. Their starters' ERA on the season is a brutal 5.24.

Sean O'Sullivan needs to get out of his funk and help the bullpen out.

O'Sullivan has failed to pitch into the sixth inning in each of his last three starts. He's given up six runs in each of his last two outings. He has to be better against a Dodgers team that averages the fifth-most runs in the National League.

It gets overlooked because of the 9-5 final score, but Elvis Araujo saved the Phillies on Saturday night. The lefty reliever provided the team with 2⅔ scoreless innings after Correia got shelled. That gave Pete Mackanin the ability to save Ken Giles, Luis Garcia and Paplebon in Sunday's win.

Araujo has given the Phillies some solid innings. The 23-year-old has pitched to a 3.13 ERA in 23 innings out of the bullpen.

Scouting Surkamp
The Dodgers have not announced their starter for Monday's game, but all signs point to lefty Eric Surkamp.

The Dodgers recalled Surkamp from Oklahoma City to replace Carlos Frias, who was put on the 15-day disabled list with back tightness. In seven games (six starts), Surkamp was 4-2 with a 4.50 ERA for Oklahoma City. In his last five minor league outings, however, he is 4-0 with a 2.89 ERA.

The 27-year-old has some major league experience, pitching for the Giants and White Sox. He has a 6.20 ERA in 42 big league appearances, including seven starts.

Nothing about Surkamp jumps out, but he is a pitcher the Phillies haven't seen.

Update: Los Angeles will actually send out Yimi Garcia against the Phils on Monday. The right-hander, who will make his first career start, is 3-2 with a 3.82 ERA in 39 appearances out of the bullpen this season.

Southpaws
Including tonight, the Dodgers are throwing out three straight lefties against the Phils.

Tuesday night's starter is much tougher than Surkamp.

Wednesday's starter is the toughest lefty in baseball.

Brett Anderson will take the ball on Tuesday night. The Dodgers signed the 27-year-old to a one-year deal this past offseason. Health has been an issue for Anderson, but when he's healthy, he's a fine pitcher. He hasn't missed a start this season and has posted a 3.00 ERA. Anderson hasn't been particularly tough this season against lefties.

Reigning NL MVP and Cy Young award winner Clayton Kershaw takes the mound on Wednesday night. Though his numbers don't quite stand out right now (5-6, 3.08 ERA), especially compared to his previous seasons, Kershaw still leads MLB with 147 strikeouts and has only 27 walks in 17 starts.

The Phillies are hitting .263 against lefties. Galvis (.349 in 63 ABs) and Hernandez (.400 in 45 ABs) have success against them this season, but Ben Revere (.234 in 75 ABs), Domonic Brown (.083 in 12 ABs) and Howard (.129 in 62 ABs) haven't.

This and that
-Revere is battling some hamstring soreness but said he should be back for the series against the Dodgers. He is hitting .522 in his last 12 games against them.

-Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez is expected to return to the lineup on Monday (hand). Gonzalez is hitting .291 with 15 homers and 50 RBIs this season.

-Hernandez is 25 for 54 (.463) over his last 13 games (more on him here).

-Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig is 18 for 46 (.391) with four doubles and three triples in his last 11 games against the Phillies.

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