Philadelphia @ Houston preview
Minute Maid Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 14, 2012 ) Philadelphia 12, Houston 6
Kyle Kendrick has an opportunity to hand his hometown team its second straight 100-loss season on Saturday as the Philadelphia Phillies right-hander takes the mound to face the Houston Astros. Kendrick has righted the ship after winning two of his first 10 decisions by going 5-1 and yielding just under an earned run and a half (1.49) in his last six outings. Just like Kendrick, Philadelphia has also been red hot as Charlie Manuel's club posted its eighth victory in nine outings with a 12-6 triumph over the Astros on Friday.
The Phillies' torrid streak has them three games back of St. Louis for the National League's second wild card. Jimmy Rollins is certainly swinging a hot bat, belting his 42nd career leadoff homer on Friday. The veteran shortstop, who has gone deep in three of his last four games, reached the 20-homer plateau for the first time since the 2009 season.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, CSN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Kyle Kendrick (9-10, 3.83 ERA) vs. Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (1-7, 5.35)
Kendrick posted his fifth win in six starts after handcuffing Miami on two hits over seven innings on Monday. The 28-year-old Houston native has struggled versus his hometown team, however, going 1-2 with a 4.91 ERA. Kendrick has not faced the Astros since the 2010 campaign.
Keuchel's rookie campaign hasn't gone to his liking, but he did work four solid innings in his last start. The 24-year-old allowed just one run for the first time since his first three outings in June. Keuchel has yet to face the Phillies in his brief career.
WALK-OFFS
1. Although Chase Utley has practiced taking ground balls at third base, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. admitted that he doesn't expect the five-time All-Star second baseman to play the position during the stretch run.
2. Houston OF Justin Maxwell belted his team-leading 15th homer on Friday.
3. Astros 2B Jose Altuve, who collected three hits on Friday, is 5-for-10 with two runs scored during the series. All told, Altuve is just 7-for-26 (.269) in his career versus Philadelphia.