Gameday: Phillies (53-69) vs Dodgers (72-50)
Philadelphia Phillies (53-69) vs Los Angeles Dodgers (72-50)
Cole Hamels (5-13, 3.65 ERA) vs Ricky Nolasco (9-9, 3.62 ERA)
Time: 1:35, Citizens Bank Park
TV: PHL 17
Weather: 84, rain possible
The Phillies have yet to score a run under new manager Ryne Sandberg as the Dodgers have shut them out in consecutive games and won another series to continue their torrid play. The Dodgers have now won 42 of their last 50 games, which has been done just twice since 1900.
Cole Hamels will be pitch for the Phillies looking to continue his recent stretch of quality starts. In his last four starts (31 innings) Hamels has allowed just five earned runs (1.45 ERA) and has gone eight or more innings twice. In that stretch he has lowered his season ERA from 4.16 to 3.65.
Lifetime, Hamels is 3-1 with a miniscule 1.64 ERA against the Dodgers. His last time facing them was in 2012, when he tossed six innings and allowed three earned runs.
Hanley Ramirez, who is having an MVP caliber season, has had the most success against Hamels. In 65 career at bats he is hitting .296 with two homers, six RBI and 10 doubles. Adrian Gonzalez also has two solo homers in 27 at bats against the Phillies’ lefty.
After seeing Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw in games one and two, the Phillies will get little relief in the third game of the series when Ricky Nolasco takes the hill for the Dodgers. Since coming over to L.A. from Miami, Nolasco has earned a win in four of his seven starts, and in his last three starts he is 3-0 with a 2.76 ERA.
As a member of the Marlins, Nolasco has seen the Phillies many times with varied success. In 21 starts he is 8-6 with a 3.78 ERA. In three starts this year against the Phillies he is 0-1 and the Marlins lost all three games, but he allowed just seven earned runs in 18 2/3 innings (3.38 ERA).
Chase Utley has seen Nolasco well in 35 career at bats, posting a .293 average, two home runs and a team leading seven RBI, and Domonic Brown has a homer, double, triple and three singles in 15 at bats against him.
Lineup: Martinez SS, Frandsen 1B, Utley 2B, Brown LF, Ruf RF, Asche 3B, Wells CF, Ruiz C, Hamels P
Gameday Beer: Smithwicks Irish Red Ale
Smithwicks has been around forever yet it never gets old. This red ale is one of the most common Irish brews and is perfect if you are in that Irish mood and want something lighter than a Guinness and a bit more than a Harp lager. It might not jump out at you, but you know that you are going to get a consistently solid beer, and a lot of times, that is enough.
