After dominating opponents in the minor leagues, Philadelphia Phillies top pitching prospect Cole Hamels will make his major league debut when he faces the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a three-game series on Friday.
Oddsmakers have set Hamels and the Phillies as -119 road favorites, the run total is set at 10 1/2.
The 22-year-old Hamels was Philadelphia's first-round pick in 2002, and has gone 14-4 with a 1.43 ERA and 273 strikeouts in 35 minor league starts.
''I think I feel more confident mentally and physically now that I'm able to go out and play every day and feel good,'' Hamels said.
The left-hander went 1-1 with a 1.77 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 20 1-3 innings in four starts at Class A Clearwater, and went 2-0 with a 0.39 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 23 innings in three starts at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season.
''Cole wasn't just given this job, he's earned it, based on being successful at every level he's played,'' Phillies pitcher Cory Lidle said. ''Cole's been successful doing what he's done; I would tell him not to change anything. Hey, getting a Triple-A hitter out isn't much different than getting a major leaguer out.''
Hamels struck out a club-record 14 in seven shutout innings in his Triple-A debut on April 27, and opposing batters hit just .168 against him in the minors this season.
''It's time for him to come up here and pitch and stop wasting bullets down there,'' said Ryan Madson, who will be moved to the bullpen to make room for Hamels in the starting rotation.
The Phillies (19-15) have won 10 of their last 11 games, and moved to within three games of the first-place New York Mets in the NL East after a 2-0 rain-shortened victory over them on Thursday night.
Cincinnati (23-12) has won seven of its last nine home games, including Thursday's 5-4 victory in 11 innings over Washington.
Playing in his first game since April 12 because of a bad knee, Ken Griffey Jr. hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the 11th inning to lead the Reds.
''Hopefully we can keep him healthy for the rest of the year,'' said Thursday's starter Bronson Arroyo.
Griffey is 10-for-37 in nine games this season, and went 6-for-19 with two homers and seven RBIs against Philadelphia last season.
Reds shortstop Felipe Lopez has a six-game hitting streak, going 14-for-25 (.560) with nine runs and six stolen bases in that span.
The Reds will send Elizardo Ramirez to the mound on Friday. Ramirez (1-2, 3.18) allowed seven runs, but only one earned, in four innings of a 7-1 loss to Arizona last Friday.
The right-hander allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings in his only start against the Phillies, a 4-3 loss on May 15, 2005.
Chase Utley hit his eighth home run of the season on Thursday for Philadelphia, and has four homers in his last four games against the Reds.
Phillies right fielder Bobby Abreu is 2-for-20 in his last seven games, but went 12-for-28 (.429) with three homers and nine RBIs in seven contests against Cincinnati last season.