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Sunday, May 16
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Sunday Night Baseball: Phillies at Brewers
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Philadelphia Phillies at Milwaukee Brewers (+125, 10)
The Phillies and Brewers put the wraps on their three-game series Sunday night when Cole Hamels opposes Doug Davis in a battle of southpaws at Miller Park on ESPN. Let’s see how they matchup.
Go figure
Phils' first baseman Ryan Howard entered the series in the midst of a nine-game home run drought before finally homering Friday night. Earlier this season, Howard went 15 straight games (65 plate appearances) without a home run.
Although suffering from the prolonged power slump, Howard actually saw his batting average jump from .280 to .290 in that span.
Exxon Valdez
With All-Star shortstop Jimmy Rollins on the DL and his backup, Juan Castro, out with a strained knee, the Phillies turned to Wilson Valdez to fill the gap.
Valdez has performed admirably in the field. But entering this series, his bat is leaking oil and has more holes than the Exxon Valdez. He was hitting .152 while managing to ground into five rally-killing double plays last week alone.
Castro is listed day-to-day.
Out on a Lidge
Philadelphia closer Brad Lidge left the team Wednesday in Denver and flew back to Philadelphia to have his sore elbow checked by a team physician.
The results brought good news to the injury-riddled Phillies. The MRI showed no structural damage or loose bodies in the elbow. The tests also showed that the surgery Lidge had on his elbow in November is healing properly.
But then the Phillies promptly put their closer on the 15-day disabled lest, retroactive May 10.
Until Lidge comes off the DL, the Phillies will go to a closer-by-committee approach with the back of their bullpen.
Ryan Madson served as the team's closer in April the first time Lidge was on the DL. But Madson had surgery on his right big toe last week and isn't expected to return until July.
The Phillies may turn to veteran Jose Contreras. The righthander is 2-1 with an 0.77 ERA and a 15-to-1 strikeouts-to-walks ratio in 11 2/3 innings of work this season.
"We just have to play with it and see where we're at," manager Charlie Manuel said. "We'll get by."
Arm shortage
Like the Phillies, the Brewers’ bullpen is running on fumes.
Milwaukee’s starting rotation is averaging less than six innings per start and, as a result, the bullpen is getting exhausted filling in the remaining innings.
After three rough days against Atlanta, manager Ken Macha admitted the problem extends beyond just one or two relievers.
RHP Carlos Villanueva saw his ERA soar from 0.51 to 3.26 in two relief appearances on consecutive days against the Braves. Villanueva allowed six runs in 1 2/3 innings in those outings.
"It's been a little bit of an epidemic throughout the (Braves) series,” said Macha,
"It's not just one or two guys. It's everybody out there."
Where’s the beef?
Brewers' first baseman Prince Fielder, who ranked second in the NL with a .602 slugging percentage in 2009, has not been able to find his power stroke this season.
Entering this series, Fielder had only nine extra-base hits (five doubles, four homers) in 130 at-bats and has a .385 slugging percentage.
The good news is Ryan Braun returned to the Milwaukee lineup Friday night. He missed the last two games of the Atlanta series after being hit on the left elbow on a pitch from Tommy Hanson.
Armed to the max
Philadelphia lefthander Hamels enters tonight game at 3-2 with a 4.53 ERA. In his last three starts he has mowed down 23 hitters in 19 innings of work.
Hamels is 3-4 in his seven career team starts in this series, including 0-3 as a visitor with a 5.75 ERA.
Milwaukee southpaw Davis has struggled since coming over from Arizona this season. He walked six and surrendered a grand slam on Monday against the Brewers. The lefty went 5 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on three hits while striking out four. Davis took the loss, dropping to 1-4 with a 7.56 ERA.
Davis is 4-4 in his career team starts against the Phillies, including 3-1 at home with a 2.71 ERA.
Chew on this
After Friday’s 9-5 setback, Milwaukee fell to 4-12 at home, its worst start ever at Miller Park.
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Sunday, May 16
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday Night Baseball: Phillies at Brewers
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Philadelphia Phillies at Milwaukee Brewers (+125, 10)
The Phillies and Brewers put the wraps on their three-game series Sunday night when Cole Hamels opposes Doug Davis in a battle of southpaws at Miller Park on ESPN. Let’s see how they matchup.
Go figure
Phils' first baseman Ryan Howard entered the series in the midst of a nine-game home run drought before finally homering Friday night. Earlier this season, Howard went 15 straight games (65 plate appearances) without a home run.
Although suffering from the prolonged power slump, Howard actually saw his batting average jump from .280 to .290 in that span.
Exxon Valdez
With All-Star shortstop Jimmy Rollins on the DL and his backup, Juan Castro, out with a strained knee, the Phillies turned to Wilson Valdez to fill the gap.
Valdez has performed admirably in the field. But entering this series, his bat is leaking oil and has more holes than the Exxon Valdez. He was hitting .152 while managing to ground into five rally-killing double plays last week alone.
Castro is listed day-to-day.
Out on a Lidge
Philadelphia closer Brad Lidge left the team Wednesday in Denver and flew back to Philadelphia to have his sore elbow checked by a team physician.
The results brought good news to the injury-riddled Phillies. The MRI showed no structural damage or loose bodies in the elbow. The tests also showed that the surgery Lidge had on his elbow in November is healing properly.
But then the Phillies promptly put their closer on the 15-day disabled lest, retroactive May 10.
Until Lidge comes off the DL, the Phillies will go to a closer-by-committee approach with the back of their bullpen.
Ryan Madson served as the team's closer in April the first time Lidge was on the DL. But Madson had surgery on his right big toe last week and isn't expected to return until July.
The Phillies may turn to veteran Jose Contreras. The righthander is 2-1 with an 0.77 ERA and a 15-to-1 strikeouts-to-walks ratio in 11 2/3 innings of work this season.
"We just have to play with it and see where we're at," manager Charlie Manuel said. "We'll get by."
Arm shortage
Like the Phillies, the Brewers’ bullpen is running on fumes.
Milwaukee’s starting rotation is averaging less than six innings per start and, as a result, the bullpen is getting exhausted filling in the remaining innings.
After three rough days against Atlanta, manager Ken Macha admitted the problem extends beyond just one or two relievers.
RHP Carlos Villanueva saw his ERA soar from 0.51 to 3.26 in two relief appearances on consecutive days against the Braves. Villanueva allowed six runs in 1 2/3 innings in those outings.
"It's been a little bit of an epidemic throughout the (Braves) series,” said Macha,
"It's not just one or two guys. It's everybody out there."
Where’s the beef?
Brewers' first baseman Prince Fielder, who ranked second in the NL with a .602 slugging percentage in 2009, has not been able to find his power stroke this season.
Entering this series, Fielder had only nine extra-base hits (five doubles, four homers) in 130 at-bats and has a .385 slugging percentage.
The good news is Ryan Braun returned to the Milwaukee lineup Friday night. He missed the last two games of the Atlanta series after being hit on the left elbow on a pitch from Tommy Hanson.
Armed to the max
Philadelphia lefthander Hamels enters tonight game at 3-2 with a 4.53 ERA. In his last three starts he has mowed down 23 hitters in 19 innings of work.
Hamels is 3-4 in his seven career team starts in this series, including 0-3 as a visitor with a 5.75 ERA.
Milwaukee southpaw Davis has struggled since coming over from Arizona this season. He walked six and surrendered a grand slam on Monday against the Brewers. The lefty went 5 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on three hits while striking out four. Davis took the loss, dropping to 1-4 with a 7.56 ERA.
Davis is 4-4 in his career team starts against the Phillies, including 3-1 at home with a 2.71 ERA.
Chew on this
After Friday’s 9-5 setback, Milwaukee fell to 4-12 at home, its worst start ever at Miller Park.
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