Florida @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 5, 2010 ) Philadelphia 5, Florida 4
The Philadelphia Phillies have found their form and are knocking on the door of their preferred place atop the NL East.
The Phillies will be looking to take another step forward when they face the Florida Marlins in the first game of a doubleheader on Monday.
After winning the NL East in each of the last three seasons, Philadelphia was the odds-on favorite to dominate the division again after the acquisition of Roy Halladay in the offseason. But injuries to offensive stars like Chase Utley and Ryan Howard along with some problems at the back end of the rotation and in the bullpen sent them on a losing streak.
The lull lasted from June all the way through the beginning of August, dipping the team from first place in May down to third place through much of July. The Phillies have held steady in second place since the beginning of August, finally pulling to with one game of the Atlanta Braves with a five-game winning streak that finally came to an end on Sunday.
Both NL East powers may make the playoffs either way, as the Phillies own a two-game edge over the San Francisco Giants in the race for the wild card.
A doubleheader sweep on Monday would pull them to at least one-half game behind, or possibly ahead, of Braves.
Kyle Kendrick got knocked around in the Philadelphia’s 6-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday, surrendering five runs in just four innings. While Kendrick and Joe Blanton at the back end of the rotation have given the team mixed results lately, the front three of Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels gives the Phillies a potentially dominating October rotation if they can find their way into the playoffs.
The Marlins did Philadelphia a favor on Sunday, securing a 7-6 win over the Braves in 10 innings. Hanley Ramirez homered and drove in three and rookie Logan Morrison doubled twice for Florida.
Trying to stop Ramirez and Morrison in Monday’s opener will be right-hander Vance Worley, who will be making his first major league start. The 22-year-old was pulled from his start at Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday in anticipation of being recalled. Worley has made eight starts in Triple-A this season, going 1-3 with a 3.77 ERA.
He made one relief appearance for the Phillies earlier this season, striking out two in a perfect inning against the Colorado Rockies on July 24.
The Marlins will counter with their own youngster in Adalberto Mendez, who will be making his major league debut. The 28-year-old right-hander has gone 5-4 with a 4.14 ERA in 28 games - nine starts - for Triple-A New Orleans this season.