Philadelphia @ Los Angeles preview
Dodger Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 12, 2010 ) LA Dodgers 9, Philadelphia 10
The Philadelphia Phillies are back on track and making a run toward the playoffs. For their part, the Los Angeles Dodgers appear ready to throw in the towel as the teams begin a three-game series on Monday.
The Phillies lead the race for the National League wild card by 1 1/2 games over the San Francisco Giants. The struggling Dodgers trail four teams and are 6 1/2 games back for the postseason spot.
Philadelphia is also in the running for its fourth straight NL East crown. The Phillies are just two games behind the division-leading Atlanta Braves.
Things did not look so good for the Phillies after losing four straight at home to the Houston Astros, but solid starting pitching and a few timely hits reversed their fortunes. As a result, Philadelphia started its seven-game West Coast swing with a three-game sweep of the NL West-leading San Diego Padres.
Starting pitchers Roy Oswalt, Joe Blanton and Cole Hamels all recorded wins against the Padres and combined to yield just two earned runs in 22 innings. Hamels and Ryan Madson combined on a shutout on Sunday, Philadelphia's 16th of the season which is tied for second in the National Lwague.
While the Phillies have designs on a third straight World Series trip, the Dodgers are apparently ready to shed some payroll and baggage with the likely departure of Manny Ramirez.
According to reports, Ramirez will be heading to the Chicago White Sox as early as Monday when Chicago starts a crucial 10-game road trip.
The White Sox were awarded a waiver claim on Ramirez last week and have until 1:30 p.m. EDT on Tuesday to complete a trade with the Dodgers. Ramirez could still be let go by Los Angeles with Chicago assuming his salary, but a trade is more likely.
After getting three straight solid performances from its starters, Philadelphia will likely get a fourth with ace Roy Halladay on the mound to open the series in Los Angeles.
Halladay (16-9, 2.22 ERA) had won six straight starts before a 3-2 loss to the Astros on Wednesday in which he allowed three runs and six hits in seven innings. He has allowed more than three runs twice in his last 10 outings and has yielded one run or less seven times during that span.
The 33-year-old right-hander has had his way with the Dodgers in his career, posting a 3-0 record with an ERA of 1.50 in three career starts.
The Dodgers will counter with Hiroki Kuroda (9-11, 3.56 ERA), who is coming off just his second win in his last 10 starts.
The 35-year-old right-hander has tossed seven innings in his last four outings - including on Wednesday when he permitted four runs and seven hits while striking out six in a 5-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.