Philadelphia @ Milwaukee preview
American Family Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 8, 2011 ) Philadelphia 7, Milwaukee 2
THE STORY: The Philadelphia Phillies mustered just one hit in the first 5 2/3 innings in Thursday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Before they made their next out, the Phillies put six runs on the scoreboard and cruised to a 7-2 triumph in the opener of a four-game set between the National League division leaders. On Friday, Roy Halladay will vie for his 17th win of the season for Philadelphia, which has won nine of its last 11 to reduce its magic number to 11 in order to clinch its fifth straight NL East title. Shaun Marcum, who was a teammate of Halladay's north of the border, will provide the opposition for NL Central-leading Milwaukee.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, CSN, FSWI
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Roy Halladay (16-5, 2.49 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Shaun Marcum (12-5, 3.11 ERA)
Halladay doesn't have a losing record against many clubs in the majors, but he does against the Brewers. The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner is just 1-2 with a gaudy 6.41 ERA against Milwaukee. Halladay allowed six runs and 10 hits in a brutal 9-0 loss to the Brewers on April 19. Fast forward back to the recent past, Halladay permitted three runs on nine hits in six innings during his last outing on Sunday. He settled for a no-decision against the Florida Marlins.
Marcum stopped a modest two-game skid in spectacular fashion. The 29-year-old righthander allowed just one hit and struck out eight over seven shutout innings in a 4-0 triumph over the woeful Houston Astros on Sunday. Marcum has been stingy lately, yielding just four earned runs over his last five starts. He has also enjoyed success against Philadelphia, winning both of his decisions.
ABOUT THE PHILLIES (92-48): Hunter Pence drove in three runs and Cole Hamels tossed his third complete game as Philadelphia won the opener of the four-game set. Pence's triple keyed a six-run sixth inning, but perhaps the bigger topic of conversation was the absence of the Phillies' most familiar faces. Slugger Ryan Howard, five-time All-Star Chase Utley and former league MVP Jimmy Rollins were all out of the lineup, marking the second time since Sept. 12, 2004 that the trio collectively missed the game. Utley is sidelined for the series with a mild concussion, Rollins had just been activated from the disabled list and Howard was given a routine night off.
ABOUT THE BREWERS (85-60): Milwaukee seems to have lost its offense. Four runs in its last three games - all losses - is a testament to that. Sure, Corey Hart and Yuniesky Betancourt belted solo homers on Thursday, but the modest offense was not nearly enough against the team with the best record in the majors. All-Star Rickie Weeks was activated from the disabled list prior to Thursday's game, but did not play. Manager Ron Roenicke plans to be patient with Weeks as he slowly works him back into action. Prince Fielder has enjoyed success against Halladay, going 6-for-10 in his career.
FINAL PITCH: "Just staying in that top echelon of guys. I want to be in that sort of category. That’s what I strive for every year.” - Hamels