Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Posted: 12:25 p.m.
CSNPhilly.com
Phillies (25-16) at Rockies (22-18), 7:05 p.m. on CSN
Starting Pitchers
Phillies: Since his disastrous first start against the Mets on April 5, Cole Hamels (4-2, 3.19) has averaged 7.3 innings, 1.8 earned runs, 5.3 hits and 7.6 strikeouts per game. Over his last four outings, Hamels strikeout to walk ratio is a devastating 7.5-to-1. He is, however, coming off his toughest start in a number of weeksa six-inning no-decision against the Braves in which he allowed four earned on eight hits.
Rockies: As exhibited by his pristine record, Jorge De La Rosa (5-1, 3.70) has been difficult to beat this year. A portion of De La Rosas win-loss success, however, is due to the 5.5 runs of support per game that the Rockies average when he is on the mound. He is Colorados team-leader in strikeouts with 45 on the season.
Previous games
The Rockies are coming off a sweep of the division-rival Giants in a short two-game set. They have scored 33 runs over their last four games.
The Phils enter this nine-game homestand having lost four straight. During the losing streak, the Phils averaged just 1.7 runs and 4.2 hits per game. They are coming off a 2-1 loss to the Cardinals which ended on a walk-off hit by Lance Berkman.
Head-to-head
Jimmy Rollins has four hits in 10 at-bats against De La Rosa with a double, a homer and three RBIs. Carlos Ruiz has also had success against De La Rosa, but within a smaller sample size, going 3-for-5 with two doubles off left-hander for his career.
In 346 plate appearances against the Phils, Todd Helton has 43 extra-base hits, 58 RBIs and a .371 average.
Whos hot?
Offensively, no one is hot for the Phils. In their last four games, they have had just two players notch multiple hits in a single game. The hottest player on the Phils right now has to be Ryan Madson, who 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. Madson, however, hasnt pitched since Friday.
MLB
Ryan Spilborghs is 7-for-14 over his last four games and Carlos Gonzalez has eight RBIs in his last five contests.
Storylines
The Phils offense has been nonexistent of late. With Shane Victorino and Ruiz on the mend, their lineup has been, at best, pedestrian. In the month of May (15 games), the Phils have scored more than three runs just six times, registering a 7-8 record over that span.
Sound off
Is the Phils current offensive slump temporary? When Victorino, Ruiz and Chase Utley return to the lineup full-time, will the offense be able to support the pitching staff? Is the addition of a right-handed bat going to be necessary at the trade deadline?