Saturday, May 7, 2011
Posted: 12:25 p.m.
CSNPhilly.com
Phillies (21-10) vs. Braves (19-15), 7 p.m. on CSN
Starting Pitchers
Phillies: Roy Oswalt was placed on the 15-day DL with back soreness, so Kyle Kendrick (1-2, 2.08) will take the mound on Saturday. Kendrick hasnt started a game yet this season, but he has worked 13 solid innings out of the bullpen, allowing just nine hits and three earned runs. He has, however, walked eight batters during his time in relief this season.
Mets: Julio Teheran (0-0, 0.00), the Braves top prospect, will be called up from Triple-A Gwinnett to make his major league debut. In 30 innings in the minors this season, the 20-year-old has allowed just 25 hits and eight walks, registering a 1.80 ERA and a 3-0 record.
Previous games
Atlanta dominated the Phillies on Friday night, notching a 5-0 win and moving to 3.5 games back of the division lead. Derek Lowe took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and the Phils managed just two hits on the night. Despite allowing nine hits and three earned over seven innings, Cliff Lee struck out a career-high 16 batters.
Head-to-head
The Phils won two of three against the Braves in Atlanta last month, allowing a total of two runs over the final two games of the series. In 222 career games against the Phils, Chipper Jones has a .336 batting average with 45 homers and 140 RBIs. Martin Prado has five hits in eight at-bats against Kendrick. Ryan Howard has 56 career extra-base hits against the Braves in 106 games, including 34 home runs.
Whos hot?
After being shut out on two hits on Friday, no one is hot for the Phils. Raul Ibanez had eight hits in his 12 at-bats prior to the series opener, including three doubles and two homers.
MLB
Alex Gonzalez has at least one hit in nine of his last 11 games, totaling 15 hits and nine RBIs over that span.
Storylines
Despite receiving a fair amount of work out of the bullpen, Kendrick has yet to make an actual start this season. With Oswalt hitting the disabled list, Kendrick could be forced into another start next Friday against Atlanta.
The Phils offense has managed three runs or less in seven of 11 series openers.
Sound off
Howard is 0-for-7 over his last two games with four strikeouts. He has started every game this season, playing every inning but one at first base. Could the big fella use a break?