Friday, May 20, 2011
Posted: 12:30 p.m.
CSNPhilly.com
Phillies (26-17) vs. Rangers (23-21), 7:05 p.m. on WPHL
Starting Pitchers
Phillies: Roy Halladay (5-3, 2.21) has lost each of his last two starts, though he is hardly to blame. The two-time Cy Young winner gave up three runs in eight innings Sunday in Atlanta but suffered a 3-2 defeat. He has not fared well against Texas is his career, posting a 7-7 career record and a 5.36 ERA in 20 games (19 starts).
Rangers: C.J. Wilson (4-2, 3.37) has struggled with his control lately, walking nine batters in his last two starts after giving up a total of 13 walks in his first seven starts. He logged a season-low five innings Sunday against the Angels, yielding four runs (two earned). He has faced the Phillies twice, though never as a starter.
Previous games
The Phillies were pounded, 7-1, in the finale of their brief two-game set with the Rockies on Thursday night. Jason Giambi hit three homers for Colorado, while Raul Ibanez's RBI double accounted for the Phils' only run.
The Rangers split a two-game set with the Royals this week. They dropped Thursday's contest, 2-1, as Neftali Feliz blew the save in the ninth before the bullpen gave up the decisive run in the 10th.
Head-to-head
The Phillies have not faced the Rangers since 2008, when they dropped two of three games in Arlington.
Whos hot?
Placido Polanco had two hits on Thursday and leads the team with a .335 average. Ross Gload has six hits in his last 15 at-bats. Ryan Madson has thrown 11 straight innings of relief without allowing a run, surrendering just six hits and striking out 15 batters since the streak began on April 20.
Storylines
The Phillies' offense remains in a major funk. Ryan Howard (0-for-20 in his last six games) is the latest Phillie to suffer through a nightmarish slump. One Texas player that Halladay has had success against is Adrian Beltre (5-for-27, no homers). On the other hand, Mike Napoli (3-for-10, home run) and Ian Kinsler (6-for-19, home run) have had relative success against the Phils righty.The only Phils player with significant at-bats against Wilson is Ibanez, and hes 2-for-19 with seven Ks against him.
MLB
Sound off
Should the Phillies fans have booed Kyle Kendrick on Thursday given that he was making a last-minute start under horrible weather conditions?
Update
The Phils have called up Domonic Brown and put Shane Victorino on the disabled list.