PHI: 47-58, 5th in NL East; ARI: 54-51, 3rd in NL Central
When: August 3-5
Where: Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia, PA)
Probable Pitchers
Friday: Kyle Kendrick (4-8, 4.45) vs Ian Kennedy (9-8, 4.20)
Saturday: Roy Halladay (4-6, 4.33) vs Joe Saunders (5-7, 3.62)
Sunday: Cliff Lee (2-6, 3.73) vs Trevor Cahill (9-9, 3.75)
Broadcast Info
Friday, 7:05, CSN
Saturday, 7:05, CSN
Sunday, 1:35, PHL 17
All Games on 94.1 FM
Player to Watch – 1B Paul Goldschmidt: Goldschmit is having a strong sophomore season after taking the league by surprise in the second half of last season. He’s leading the team with a .304 average and has 17 homers and 53 RBIs to go along with that. He’s a strong hitter all-around, leading the team with 30 doubles.
Series Overview: Arizona is in the middle of a three-team race in the NL West. They set themselves back by not making any big splashes at the deadline, but are still a good young team that’s looking to win its second straight division title.
Arizona has won three straight, keeping them in pace with the Giants and Dodgers, who are two games and 1.5 ahead of them respectively. The Phils took two of three from the Nats in Washington, but still sit 13 games back of the Wild Card.
Besides Goldschmidt and 24-year-old Justin Upton, their offense features the veteran presence of Aaron Hill and Jason Kubel. Hill is hitting .300 with 13 homers and 47 RBIs while Kubel has been crushing the ball with a team-high 22 home runs and 72 RBIs to go along with a modest .287 average.
The pitching for the Diamondbacks has been consistently average while the pitching for the Phillies has been consistently underwhelming.
Ian Kennedy will face Joe Blanton tonight. Both pitchers have ERAs above 4.00, normal for Blanton but a major drop off for Kennedy, who was in the top five in Cy Young voting last season. UPDATE: With Blanton being claimed, Kyle Kendrick (4-8, 4.45) will make the start tonight.
The underperforming tandem of Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee will pitch on Saturday and Sunday against Joe Saunders and Trevor Cahill. Both Phillies pitchers have six combined wins after finishing second and third in Cy Young voting last season.
TTB 