Philadelphia @ New York preview
Yankee Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jun 16, 2010 ) Philadelphia 6, NY Yankees 3
Marquee matchups seem to bring out the best in Andy Pettitte.
Combined with the way he has pitched lately, the veteran New York Yankees left-hander could be doubly dangerous Thursday.
A winner in five of his last six decisions, Pettitte (8-1, 2.46 ERA) will look to lead the Yankees (41-24) to yet another series win over the Philadelphia Phillies (33-30).
The previous series win carried a bit more weight, as the 38-year-old Louisiana native pitched New York to victories in Games 3 and 6 in the 2009 World Series. The latter triumph proved to be the clincher as the Yankees celebrated their 27th world championship.
Fast-forwarding to this season, Pettitte has pitched at least seven innings in his last four outings, posting a 3-0 mark with a 2.10 ERA in the process.
In his last start on Friday, Pettitte tossed 7 1/3 sharp innings to become the third player to earn 200 victories with the Yankees with a 4-3 triumph over the Houston Astros.
The Phillies will counter with Kyle Kendrick (3-2, 4.80 ERA), who was originally scheduled to start Wednesday's game before manager Charlie Manuel elected to send veteran Jamie Moyer to the hill.
The move paid dividends as the 47-year-old Moyer tossed eight sharp innings en route to a 6-3 victory.
As for Kendrick, the 25-year-old right-hander's days in the starting rotation appear to be numbered as J.A. Happ works his way through several rehabilitation outings in the Phillies' farm system.
Kendrick, who has never faced the Yankees, struggled in his last start, permitting six runs and six hits en route to a no-decision against the Florida Marlins on June 8.
The tall Texan was buoyed by an offensive explosion in that 10-8 victory over the Marlins.
Kendrick wouldn't mind a similar outburst like the Phillies exhibited on Wednesday. Shane Victorino slapped a three-run triple and Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth recorded the team's first back-to-back home runs of the season.
For their part, the Yankees continued their home run barrage with solo shots from Robinson Cano and Jorge Posada on Wednesday. In the series opener, Nick Swisher belted a two-run home run and Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira added solo shots in an 8-3 triumph.
New York slugger Alex Rodriguez, who sat out four games with a groin injury, returned to action on Wednesday and went 1-for-3 with an RBI double in the ninth inning.