Phillies Nation

Cincinnati Reds (25-17) at Philadelphia Phillies (20-22)

Bronson Arroyo (3-4, 3.76) vs. Kyle Kendrick (4-1, 2.47)

TIME: 4:05, Citizens Bank Park
TV: Fox
Weather: 70, cloudy
Media: Twitter and Facebook

BIG Z UPDATE: Carlos Zambrano made his debut in extended Spring Training today, throwing two innings, allowing one hit and striking out five. A pretty good return to professional baseball for Big Z.

With last night’s win, this series is already going better for the Phillies than the one they played last month, when the Reds swept them out of Cincinnati. It’s been a struggle to get back to.500 for the Phils, but with ace Kyle Kendrick on the mound, they could actually pull to within one game of that mark for the first time since April 15 when they were 6-7.

Kendrick has pitched at least seven innings and allowed two runs or less in his last four starts, and five of his last six. In fact, since his rocky 2013 debut, he hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any start. Against the Reds, he has posted a career 4.19 ERA, but much of that came when he was a less seasoned pitcher. He hadn’t started against the Reds since July of 2010 before this season when he held them scoreless of seven innings on April 16 in a 1-0 loss. He’ll have his work cut out for him against a Reds lineup that is third in the NL in runs scored.

It’s the rock star, Bronson Arroyo, on the bump for Cincy. Hard to believe the 37-year old is still pitching the way he is, as he’s consistently given the Reds solid seasons over the course of his 30s. But even at 3.76, Arroyo has the highest ERA of any Reds starter. The Phils need to get to this guy. Over the course of his career, Arroyo’s had trouble when facing Philly, posting a 6.00 ERA. Surprisingly, much of that has been done is his home ballparks, as his ERA is a very respectable 3.33 when pitching at CBP.

John Mayberry gets the start in center for the fourth consecutive game, while Erik Kratz gets a look behind the plate.

Lineup: Rollins SS, Utley 2B, M. Young 3B, Howard 1B, D. Young RF, Brown LF, Mayberry CF, Kratz C, Kendrick P

GAMEDAY BEER: Dogfish Head Raison D’Etre

The box on this brew from Dogfish Head proclaims, “American beer of the year!” I’m too lazy to verify whether that’s actually true or not, but I can tell you the Raison D’Etre is one hell of a craft beer. It’s a mahogany ale, brewed with Belgian beer and green raisins. Like most Dogfish Head selections, it’s got a rich flavor and is quite heavy. At 8% alcohol by volume, it’s a great beer to get your night started. Enjoy! – RD

Cincinnati Reds (25-16) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (19-22)

Tony Cingrani (2-0, 2.89) vs. Cliff Lee (4-2, 2.86)

TIME: 7:05, Citizens Bank Park
TV: PHL 17
Weather: 68, sunny
Media: Twitter and Facebook

News and notes:

-Mike Adams had an MRI and is considered day-to-day, although a DL stint is not quite out of the woods. He has a mild back strain, and if he does do to the DL they can retro him to 5/11.

-Ruben Amaro Jr. gave an update on Carlos Zambrano. Big Z will throw two innings in an extended spring training game, or somewhere around 30-40 pitches tomorrow. They will then ramp him up to 50 pitches his next outing.

-John Lannan will throw a bullpen session on Monday or Tuesday according to Amaro, but he’s still not all that close to being ready.

As for tonight’s game, the Red hot Reds are in town and looking to get on base. That’s what Shin-Soo Choo and Joey Votto do. They are 1-2 in the NL in OBP, with Choo getting on at a ridiculous .458 clip this season. As Corey Seidman pointed out today on twitter, Joey Votto and Shin-Soo Choo have reached base 177 times … which is the exact same number as Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Domonic Brown and Ben Revere combined. Wow.

Cliff Lee will have his work cut out for him as Votto has hit him well. He is 7-for-16 with a HR off the fellow lefty.

Lineup: Rollins SS, Utley 2B, M. Young 3B, Howard 1B, D. Young RF, Brown LF, Ruiz C, Mayberry CF, Lee P

GAMEDAY BEER: Stone Levitation Ale

This deep amber brew has a rich maltiness, big hoppy character, citrus overtones, and an impressively modest alcohol content for a beer with so much flavor packed into it. It’s at 4.4%, so it’s not overbearing. Beer Advocate has it highly ranked with a score of 88. And Stone Brewing Co. rarely let’s anyone down. Enjoy!

Philadelphia Phillies (19-21) vs. Cleveland Indians (21-17)

Cole Hamels (1-5, 4.18) vs. Cory Kluber (2-2, 5.64)

TIME: 1:05, Citizens Bank Park
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Weather: 71, Sunny
Media: Twitter and Facebook

The big news of the day is that the Phillies signed former all-star hurler Carlos Zambrano to a minor league contract. No water coolers were hurt during the signing.

What the signing says to me is that the Phillies think they lack organizational depth at the higher levels that can help should another pitcher go down. It also shows a lack of confidence in Tyler Cloyd and a lack of readiness for Adam Morgan.

Continue reading Gameday: Phillies (19-21) vs. Indians (21-17)

Philadelphia Phillies (18-21) vs. Cleveland Indians (21-16)

RHP Jonathan Pettibone (2-0, 3.63 ERA) v. LHP Scott Kazmir (2-1, 4.87 ERA)

TIME: 7:05, Citizens Bank Park
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Weather: 50, few clouds
Media: Twitter and Facebook

On April 30, the struggling Phillies arrived in Cleveland expecting to play a team that was also suffering from early-season inconsistency.  What a difference two weeks can make.  The Tribe embarrassed the Phillies, completing a two-game sweep by a combined score of 20-2.  They’ve gone 9-3 since against some stiff competition (Twins, A’s, Tigers and Yankees) and now sit only a half-game out of the AL Central lead.

It was those two losses that triggered Cliff Lee to proclaim that the Phillies needed to play with more pride.  With the Indians in Philly on Tuesday and Wednesday for another two-game series, now is their chance.  The Phils are coming off a successful West Coast swing, taking four of seven from the Giants and D’Backs.  Their starting pitching was great on the road trip, but will be put to the test against an Indians offense that has scored the sixth most runs in baseball.

Jonathan Pettibone takes the ball on Tuesday night for the Phils.  He was a model of consistency through his first three major league starts (all Phillies wins), throwing strikes and making opposing hitters put the ball in play.  While the 22-year-old regressed a bit last week in San Fran – he allowed seven hits and four walks – he still kept his team in the game.  But issuing four free passes won’t fly against a potent Cleveland lineup.  The Tribe has four regulars with OPS’ over .800, and five if you count Ryan Raburn.  For comparison, the Phillies have one; Chase Utley.   Pettibone’s outing tonight should be a telling barometer for Phils fans wondering if his performance thus far is sustainable.

The Phillies offense will face Scott Kazmir for the first time since beating him twice in the 2008 World Series with the Tampa Bay Rays.  Kazmir’s career has been a disaster since then, culminating in a stint with an independent league team last season.  The Indians took a chance on the former All-Star and it has paid off over his last two starts, in which he has gone 2-0 and racked up 17 strikeouts in only 12 innings.  The Phils are always susceptible to good left-handers (see Patrick Corbin last Thursday), but were able to get to a previously unhittable Madison Bumgarner a week ago.

While scoring 25 runs in seven games as they did last week out West is no large feat, the Phillies did seem to come up with more clutch hits than they had over any stretch this season.  Nearly a quarter of the way into the season, it is clear this lineup is far from special… and will therefore need all the clutch hitting it can get.

Lineup: Rollins SS, Frandsen 2B, M. Young 3B, Howard 1B, D. Young RF, Brown LF, Ruiz C, Mayberry CF, Pettibone P

GAMEDAY BEER: Great Lakes Brewing Co. Dartmunder Gold

Cleveland has been named one of America’s best cities for beer by GQ and one of the highlights of the local beer comes from Great Lakes Brewing Company.

Miami Marlins (9-22) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (14-17)

Kevin Slowey (0-2, 2.15 ERA) vs. Roy Halladay (2-3, 6.75)

TIME: 2:35 PM, Citizens Bank Park
TV: PHL 17
Weather: 63, clear
Media: Twitter and Facebook

Doc Halladay attempts to win the series for the Phils, looking to bounce back versus the Fish after one of the worst starts of career against the Indians. Against current Marlins, Halladay has a line against of .288/.299/.364 and the Phillies are hitting .364/.389/.545 against Marlins starter Kevin Slowey, so this one has the potential to be high scoring.

Lineup: Galvis SS, M. Young 3B, Utley 2B, Howard 1B, D. Young RF, Brown LF, Ruiz C, Revere CF, Halladay P

GAMEDAY BEER: Coors Light

It’s time to tap the Rockies and go with something familiar. Beating the Marlins is as old as time and the Phils will bounce back with a classic this afternoon.

Go Phils!

Miami Marlins (8-21) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (13-16)

Ricky Nolasco (2-2, 3.82) vs. Jonathan Pettibone (1-0, 4.35)

TIME: 7:05, Citizens Bank Park
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Weather: 59, clear
Media: Twitter and Facebook

It’s not often that you’ll hear me say the Phillies need to sweep a team, especially in a four-game series. But after the debacle in Cleveland killed any momentum they had mounted, the Phils need to sweep the Stanton-less Fish. Not because it’s do or die, or anything like that. But because Miami is really, really bad. And four straight wins would put the Phils even at .500 going into a tough west coast swing. They got off to a good start last night with a 7-2 victory.

It’ll be on rookie Jonathan Pettibone to keep the trend going when he takes the ball tonight. In two starts, Pettibone has been more than adequate. The Phillies have won both of his starts, and he has struck out ten while walking just two in 10.1 IP. Against a light-hitting Miami team, expect Pettibone to make it through the sixth inning for the first time in his young career.

Opposing Pettibone will be the Marlins ace, Ricky Nolasco. Nolasco has been a bright spot for the Fish,and has accounted for 25% of their wins. In his first start against the Phillies last month, Nolasco pitched six innings of one-run baseball. For his career, Nolasco has a very impressive 2.98 ERA in seven starts at CBP. Keep an eye on Domonic Brown, who has a 1.444 career OPS against Nolasco in limited at-bats.

Lineup: Rollins SS, Utley 2B, M. Young 3B, Howard 1B, D. Young RF, Brown LF, Ruiz C, Revere CF, Pettibone P

GAMEDAY BEER: Landshark

Typically I like to pick a craft beer for these, but the Marlins always remind me of Margaritaville’s Landshark. Partly because of the state of Florida and its tropical climate, but mainly because Landshark Stadium was the name of their former home in their last season there. Landshark is an Island Lager without a lot of flash. It is, in essence, a much-improved version of Corona. Easy on the eyes and even easier on the pallet, Landshark is a beer ideal for a lager fan looking for a quality beer without an overly complex taste. It will compliment literally anything you want to have to eat with it. – RD

Miami Marlins (8-20) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (12-15)

Alex Sanabia (2-3, 4.85) vs. Kyle Kendrick (2-1, 2.41)

TIME: 7:05, Citizens Bank Park
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Weather: 67, clear
Media: Twitter and Facebook

Ben Revere is out of the lineup with a swollen right ring finger, which he says is just a day-to-day injury. But with the way he’s hitting, plus the ability for John Mayberry to play multiple positions, you have to wonder if Revere is 100 percent an everyday player. We shall see.

Carlos Ruiz also gets a breather after a 1-for-12 start. Charlie Manuel said he’s pressing a bit, trying to do too much, which seems to be a theme this season.

What’s funny – and which is something we highlighted on the latest episode of Phillies Nation TV – is how much it’s a joy to watch Kyle Kendrick pitch. He’s got a new-found bulldog approach and will look to keep his hot start rolling against the worst team in the majors.

Keep an eye on Delmon Young in right field tonight, his first start on that side since 2007.

Lineup: Rollins SS, Utley 2B, M. Young 3B, Howard 1B, D. Young RF, Brown LF, Mayberry CF, Kratz C, Kendrick P

GAMEDAY BEER: Great Lakes Brewing Burning River Pale Ale

Yesterday we highlighted Great Lakes’ Eliot Ness, so we’ll keep it going with the Great Lakes brews. Burning River Ale is a 5-time Gold Medal winner at the World Beer Championships, so it has to be good. The Burning River is an assertively hopped American pale ale with citrusy and piney Cascade hops, which is perfect for this weather. Love a solid pale ale when spring is about to turn to summer. Throw some burgers on the fire and open one of these. – PG

Philadelphia Phillies (9-14) at New York Mets (10-10)

Kyle Kendrick (1-1, 3.28) vs. Dillon Gee (1-3, 5.95)

TIME: 7:05, Citi Field
TV: PHL 17
Weather: 60′s, partly cloudy
Media: Twitter and Facebook

The Phillies are coming off a disappointing series against the Pirates where they won a game started by Jonathan Pettibone, but lost the three started by Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay, and Cliff Lee.

Tonight, they will send Kyle Kendrick to the mound, and he’s had a surprisingly good year (for Kyle Kendrick standards). He has been the Phils second best started behind Cliff Lee, and, if you watch him pitch, you can just feel his confidence on the mound. And he’s not just getting lucky, either. He’s making good pitches in tight spots and not backing down. Continue reading Gameday: Phillies (9-14) at Mets (10-10)

Philadelphia Phillies (9-13) vs Pittsburgh Pirates (12-9)

Cliff Lee (2-1, 2.83) vs. James McDonald (2-2, 4.12)

TIME: 1:05, Citizens Bank Park
TV: Comcast Sportsnet, home of Phillies Nation TV
Weather: 64, sunny
Media: Twitter and Facebook

Continue reading Gameday: Phillies (9-13) vs. Pirates (12-9)

Philadelphia Phillies (9-12) vs Pittsburgh Pirates (11-9)

Wandy Rodriguez (2-0, 0.56) vs. Roy Halladay (2-2, 6.04)

TIME: 7:05, Citizens Bank Park
TV: Comcast Sportsnet, home of Phillies Nation TV
Weather: 55, cloudy
Media: Twitter and Facebook

Continue reading Gameday: Phillies (9-12) vs. Pirates (11-9)