Los Angeles @ Philadelphia preview

Citizens Bank Park

Last Meeting ( Oct 21, 2009 ) LA Dodgers 4, Philadelphia 10

One team is red hot at home while the other is ice cold on the road.

Let's see if those trends continue on Tuesday as the Philadelphia Phillies (62-49) look to play the part of rude host with the struggling Los Angeles Dodgers (58-54) coming to Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies have won 19 of their last 23 contests at home - and 14 of 17 overall - to climb to within 1.5 games back of the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves.

Quite an impressive display since Philadelphia remains without three of its key cogs in its lineup. Former National League Most Valuable Player Ryan Howard (ankle), four-time All-Star second baseman Chase Utley (thumb) and outfielder Shane Victorino (oblique) remain on the disabled list.

For their part, the Dodgers have dropped five straight games and nine of 10 away from Chavez Ravine. They sit in fourth-place in the division, seven full games behind the NL West-leading San Diego Padres.

Now, the last time that the Fightin' Phils faced Vicente Padilla (5-3, 3.09 ERA), they torched him in the fifth and final game of the 2009 National League Championship Series.

The 32-year-old right-hander permitted six runs in just over three innings as the Phillies cruised to a 10-4 triumph and advanced to their second consecutive World Series appearance.

Padilla was dominant in his last outing. He did not permit a hit until the seventh inning and settled on a two-hit shutout against the Padres last Wednesday.

The Nicaraguan has posted a 4-1 mark in his last five games, although he'll need to be careful against the red-hot Raul Ibanez.

The Phillies' veteran outfielder is batting .407 during his career-best 16-game hitting streak. He has belted four home runs during the stretch - including a three-run shot during Philadelphia's 6-5 victory over the New York Mets on Sunday.

Ibanez also boasts a 9-for-28 effort with two career home runs against Padilla.

Those numbers would surely bring a smile to the face of Kyle Kendrick (7-4, 4.37 ERA), who will take the mound for the Phillies on Tuesday. The 25-year-old right-hander has posted a 2-0 mark with a 1.86 ERA after he was sent to the minors for a brief stay.

Kendrick permitted two runs in six innings as Philadelphia pummeled the Florida Marlins, 7-2, last Wednesday.

The hurler better keep a keen eye on James Loney, who has had his way with Kendrick. In 10 career at-bats, Loney has safely reached base on six occasions.

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