Phillies (2-1) at Houston Astros (0-3)
When: April 9-11
Where: Minute Maid Park
Probable Pitchers
Fri: J.A. Happ vs. Bud Norris
Sat: Jamie Moyer vs. Felipe Paulino
Sun: Roy Halladay (1-0; 1.29) vs. Roy Oswalt (0-1, 4.50)
Hot (last series): Ryan Howard – .400 (6-for-15), 2 R, 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI
Not (last series): Raul Ibanez – .091 (1-for-11), 3 K
Player to watch: Pedro Feliz. He’s making his first appearances against the Phillies and will look to have a good showing at the plate. He was a letdown with the Phillies and will hope a change of scenery will benefit him. In his first three games, he only manage three hits (.250) but two of them were doubles. We know him as a rally killer in Philadelphia but there has been a trend of former Phillies who have killed them in the past. Feliz could join that list and make us fans miserable.
Series outlook: The Phillies had a nice start to the season despite the failed comeback on Thursday. Halladay was impressive and the first five batters in the line up are all having monster starts. Sunday’s match up between Doc and Oswalt should be a very entertaining battle. With Houston being the only team to not win a game thus far this season, the Phillies will look to capitalize on that and jump out to a hot start in the NL East.
TTB 