Phillies Earn Tough Split against NL-Leading Dodgers

by Scott Eisenlohr

It's been an eventful week for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Cole Hamels pitched a five-hit complete game shutout victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday, and the Phillies moved to a season-high 32-20 record. They took a four-game lead over the New York Mets in the NL East.

Phillies fans who write for Bleacher Report began to chatter. Me? My story was “Philadelphia Phillies Making Own Breaks on Way to Third Straight NL East Crown.”

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6/4 - 6/7: Philadelphia Phillies @ LA Dodgers

6/4

Philadelphia Phillies (31-20, 1st in NL East) @ Los Angeles Dodgers (37-18, 1st in NL West)

LHP Cole Hammels (3-2, 5.21 ERA) @ LHP Clayton Kershaw (3-3, 4.34 ERA)

Cole Hammels:
Last Start (5/30 vs. WAS): 6.0 IP, 6 ER, 8 H (1 HR), 1 BB, 7 K, WIN
On the Road: 1-1, 6.89 ERA, 1.72 WHIP (3 Starts)
Career vs. LAD: 1-0, 2.14 ERA, 0.95 WHIP (3 Starts)

Clayton Kershaw:
Last Start (5/27 @ COL): 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 H (1 HR), 4 BB, 4 K, WIN
At Home: 1-0, 1.13 ERA, 0.96 WHIP (4 Starts)
Career vs. PHI: 0-2, 7.80 ERA, 1.67 WHIP (3 Starts)

Last 10:
PHI (8-2)
LAD (7-3)

Season Series: LAD (2-1)

Projected PHI Lineup vs. Kershaw:
1. SS Jimmy Rollins: 3-8 (.375), .444 OBP, 1 2B
2. CF Shane Victorino: 1-8 (.125), 0 BB, 2 K
3. 2B Chase Utley: 2-7 (.286), .444 OBP, 1 HR, 3 K
4. 1B Ryan Howard: 1-7 (.143), .333 OBP, 1 2B, 3 K
5. LF Raul Ibanez: 1-2, 1 2B, 1 K
6. RF Jayson Werth: 2-8 (.250), 0 BB, 2 K
7. 3B Pedro Feliz: 1-2, 2 BB
8. C Carlos Ruiz: 0-1, 1 BB

C Chris Coste: 1-4, 1 BB, 2 K


Projected LAD Lineup vs. Hammels:
1. LF Juan Pierre: 2-8 (.250), 0 BB, 1 2B
2. SS Rafael Furcal: 1-3, 1 K
3. 3B Casey Blake: 4-11 (.364), .417 OBP, 1 2B
4. 1B James Loney: 2-9 (.222), 0 BB, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 K
5. C Russell Martin: 3-8 (.375), .444 OBP, 1 HR, 2 K
6. RF Andre Ethier: 0-7, 2 K
7. CF Matt Kemp: 3-9 (.333), 0 BB, 1 2B, 4 K
8. 2B Juan Castro: 0-4, 1 BB, 1 K

IF Mark Loretta: 1-3
2B Orlando Hudson (not probable): 2-9 (.222), 1 2B, 3 K
OF Jamie Hoffmann: Never faced


HOT
Chase Utley: 8-game hit streak (.333), 6 BB, 2 2B, 1 HR, 7 R, 5 RBI, 1 K, 2 SB
Ryan Howard: Hit in 9 out of last 10 games (.325), 3 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 15 RBI, 8 R, 5 BB, 1 SB

COLD
Jayson Werth: 2 for his last 12, 0 XBH
Pedro Feliz: 3 for his last 17, 0 BB, 0 R, 0 XBH

HOT
Andre Ethier: Hit in 7 of his last 8 games (.333), 3 2B, 1 HR
Matt Kemp: 8-game hit streak (.444), 3 BB, 1 2B, 2 HR, 5 R, 3 SB

COLD
Casey Blake: 2 for his last 14, 0 XBH, 0 R
Rafael Furcal: 0 for his last 7, 1 BB, 3 K

LA Dodgers @ Philadelphia Phillies

5/12/09

Los Angeles Dodgers (22-11, 1st in NL West) @ Philadelphia Phillies (15-14, 3rd in NL East)

LHP Clayton Kershaw (1-2, 4.91 ERA) @ RHP Chan Ho Park (0-1, 6.67 ERA)

Clayton Kershaw:
Last Start (5/6, vs WAS): 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Ks, WIN
Against Philadelphia: 0-1, 8.10 ERA, 1.70 WHIP

Chan Ho Park:
Last Start (5/6 @ NYM): 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Ks, ND
Against LA: 2-1, 4.74 ERA, 1.62 WHIP


Projected Dodger Lineup vs. Park:
1. SS Rafael Furcal: 8-22 (.364), .440 OBP, 2 2B
2. 2B Orlando Hudson: 3-11 (.273), .385 OBP
3. RF Andre Ethier: 0-3, 1 K
4. 1B James Loney: Never faced
5. C Russell Martin: 1-2
6. CF Matt Kemp: 0-1, 1 BB
7. 3B Casey Blake: 0-2, 2 Ks
9. LF Juan Pierre: 12-25 (.480), .536 OBP, 2 2B, 1 3B

Projected Phils Lineup vs. Kershaw:
1. SS Jimmy Rollins: 2-5, 1 2B
2. CF Shane Victorino: 0-5, 2 Ks
3. 2B Chase Utley: 2-4, 2 BBs, 1 HR
4. 1B Ryan Howard: 1-5, 1 BB, 1 2B, 2 Ks
5. RF Jayson Werth: 1-5, 2 Ks
6. LF Raul Ibanez: Never faced
7. 3B Pedro Feliz: 1-2
8. C Chris Coste: 1-4, 1 BB, 2 Ks


HOT
Russell Martin: 8 for his last 13, 1 2B, 6 BBs
Juan Pierre: 9 for his last 16, 3 2B, 4 R, 4 RBI, 2 BBs
COLD
James Loney: 7 for his last 41, 1 XBH in last 10 games, 0 BBs
Andre Ethier: 2 for his last 22, 0 XBH, 1 RBI

HOT
Jayson Werth: 6 for his last 10, 2 HRs
Ryan Howard: 5 for his last 16, 4 2B, 1 HR
COLD
Chase Utley: 3 for his last 19, 6 Ks (though 2 HRs)
Shane Victorino: 0 for his last 13, 1 BB

The Dodger offensive numbers have been good since Manny's incident, with the only cold guys (Ethier and Loney) really struggling in the middle of the order, which has made it look like runs are a bigger need. Like the Dodgers (who have lost 3 of 4), the Phils are in a little slump as well (losing 4 of 5), but come home.

LA needs to take advantage of Chan Ho Park on the mound... and it would be very nice to see Ethier and Loney break out of their slumps in a perfect setting. Given Pierre and Furcal's success, I wouldn't be surprised if Torre goes with a similar lineup today as he did Sunday. It is noteworthy that Park came off a very good performance in New York, but he has struggled at Citizens Bank.

On the flip side, Kershaw has gotten pounded by the Phils in limited appearances. But, you figure, a lineup full of lefty power guys (mean high number of Ks) is the type of lineup that Kershaw can really do well against if he's on his game. He can't pitch like his last outing, but he can still do damage. Just be weary of those guys 3-6... especially the righty Werth, who has taken advantage of being sandwiched between an MVP and a guy who has hit 9 HRs.