Florida @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 6, 2010 ) Florida 4, Philadelphia 7
The Philadelphia Phillies are locked in two tight battles in the final month of the season, though it's the division crown that they really want.
The Phillies will be looking to take another step closer to that goal when they face the Flordia Marlins again on Tuesday.
Currently one-half game behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East, Philadelphia is within striking distance of its fourth straight division title. The division could go down to the wire this season, with the Phillies and Braves meeting six times in the final two weeks - including a three-game set to close out the regular season.
Philadelphia also holds a 1 1/2-game lead over the San Francisco Giants in the race for the National League wild card.
The Phillies and Marlins split a doubleheader on Monday, with Florida taking the opener, 7-1, and Philadelphia grabbing a 7-4 win in the nightcap.
Chase Utley and Placido Polanco drove in two runs apiece in the Phillies’ win while Roy Oswalt improved to 5-1 since joing the team.
Rookie Mike Stanton homered in both ends of the doubleheader for Florida and Dan Uggla had four hits on the day. Hanley Ramirez added a two-run shot in the nightcap, extending his hitting streak to 14 games.
The Marlins will send right-hander Chris Volstad to the mound on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old lasted only five innings against the Washington Nationals last week, getting thrown out of the contest after a benches-clearing brawl in which he played a big role. Volstad threw behind Nationals outfielder Nyjer Morgan, who charged the mound and threw a flying punch toward the face of Florida’s 6-foot-8 right-hander.
Rookie first baseman Gaby Sanchez came to his pitcher’s defense with a brutal clothesline of Morgan as the benches cleared. Volstad still picked up the win in that contest and has won each of his last three outings.
He last faced the Phillies on Aug. 5, allowing two runs and eight his over 5 2/3 innings and received a no-decision for his efforts. In nine career starts against the division rivals, Volstad owns a 2-3 record with a 3.99 ERA.
Philadelphia will counter with burly right-hander Joe Blanton. The 29-year-old pitched in a makeup game at Colorado last Thursday and got knocked around a bit, yielding six runs - four earned - and 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings. He was spared the loss when the Phillies' offense exploded in a 12-11 victory.
Blanton has yet to face Florida this season but owns a 4-2 record with a 3.44 ERA against the club in six career outings.