Gameday: Padres (33-23) at Phillies (30-25)
San Diego Padres (33-23) at Philadelphia Phillies (30-25)
Wade LeBlanc (2-4, 3.67 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (1-4, 5.68 ERA)
Time: 7:05 p.m., Citizens Bank Park
Weather: Cloudy/Windy, 64
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Twitter: @philliesnation
Yesterday, the Phillies bats couldn’t come up big when it counted most as they lost to the Padres 6-5 in 10 innings. Tonight, they can still win the series as Cole Hamels will take the mound against Wade LeBlanc.
Hamels should be very well rested. His last start lasted just 2/3 of an inning due to a one hour, four minute rain delay in Atlanta. Many said he should have come back out following the weather stoppage – after all Tim Hudson did it. Hamels, or possibly the coaching staff, felt it was best to keep him on the sidelines after that long. Figure Hamels to give the bullpen some rest today. He should be primed to throw 110 pitches or so. Against his hometown team Hamels has been excellent. He’s 3-1 in seven starts with an ERA of 3.35 over 43 innings.
Wade LeBlanc is not a hockey player; he’s the starting pitcher for the Padres this evening. The 25-year old left hander has been in a funk his last four starts. In those, he’s 0-4 with a 6.43 ERA. LeBlanc is facing a lineup that is salivating and would love to break out of a prolonged slump.
Some news regarding the injured Jimmy Rollins: He’ll head to Clearwater on Thursday as he continues to rest his ailing calf. It is NOT the beginning of a rehab assignment just yet, that should follow shortly after he gets down there, however. J-Roll has been MIA since May 22 – exactly the time the Phillies slump began. When he does return, Rollins said today he doesn’t think he’ll play every day to make sure the calf heals properly. He also says he’ll have an MRI once he’s ready to return to the Phillies. He seems to be at least week away, but it could be longer. When asked today it could be a month, he said “it better not be.”
Phillies Lineup: Victorino CF, Polanco 3B, Utley 2B, Howard 1B, Werth RF, Ibanez LF, Ruiz C, Valdez SS, Hamels P
A cold Stella on a beautiful night with nothing but baseball? Love it. Stella is a Belgian beer and the name is Latin for the word “star”. The Phillies could use some Stella’s tonight in their lineup. It’s been far too long since we’ve enjoyed one of their patented offensive tears. Enjoy it with a Chicken Caesar salad and a Phillies victory. You won’t be let down tonight – by either. – By Pat
GO PHILLIES!
