Vance Worley (3-2, 3.07) vs. Clayton Kershaw (4-3, 2.42)
Time: 7:05, Citizens Bank Park
TV: CSN, ESPN
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 59
Media: Twitter and Facebook
UTLEY UPDATE: Charlie Manuel announced that Chase Utley took part in extended spring training today. He went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, and a single as the DH. Utley did not see action in the field, but Manuel said they hope that comes soon. The good news is that he was running the bases.
Vance Worley makes his return to the rotation after being diagnosed with loose bodies in his right elbow. Over the past week or so, he’s thrown bullpen sessions without incident. He’ll likely throw about 75 pitches tonight, so expect the bullpen to see a good amount of work.
The Dodgers come in to Philadelphia the leaders of the West. They’re a team that takes a good deal of walks, which can cause some issues, especially for a guy like Worley coming off an injury. The Dodgers as a whole sport a 0.51 BB/K ratio, good for 4th best in the major leagues.
The Phillies will also have to deal with reigning Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw. His 2.42 ERA is 7th best in the NL and his 79.3% left-on-base rate ranks 9th in the league. That doesn’t bode well for a Phillies team that struggles with runners in scoring position with less than two outs.
Before the game, Manuel said he’s going to stick by Jimmy Rollins as his leadoff hitter; that he knows he can get hot as the season rolls along.
Lineup: Rollins SS, Polanco 3B, Pence RF, Ruiz C, Victorino CF, Wigginton 1B, Mayberry LF, Galvis 2B, Worley P
Seems like a good night for a pale ale. Troegs has one of the better pale ales, in my opinion. American style Pale Ale that is aggressively hopped with Northwest Cascades and balanced with crystal malts to create a hoppy, copper-colored crisp ale. It’s best served around 45-50 degrees, so it doesn’t have to be super cold to be enjoyable like some other beers. It’s 5.4% ABV, so watch your step, buddy. -Pat Gallen
