Analyzing The Phillies-Marlins Pitching Matchups

The Phillies will begin a three game series in Florida tonight, here is a look at the upcoming pitching matchups for the series.

Monday: Vance Worley (3-1, 2.57 ERA) vs Ricky Nolasco (5-4, 4.08 ERA)

Worley comes off of the most impressive outing of his young career, going seven innings and giving up one run on five hits against the fearsome Boston Red Sox offense. He showed great composure when faced with a heavily favored opponent, and made an effort to minimize the amount of batters that he walked. He had a strong gameplan, and he executed it nearly flawlessly. Worley made a start against he Marlins earlier in the season, and lasted three innings, giving up only one run.

Nolasco is having an average season for Florida. Not good, not bad, just average. However, he has fared very well against the Phillies in his career, with a 6-3 record and an ERA of 3.57 in 13 games. His last two outings have been strong ones, going a combined 16 innings and allowing just three runs, including a complete game shutout of the Oakland Athletics.

Advantage: Ricky Nolasco

Yes, Worley is coming off of a very encouraging performance, but Nolasco is starting to heat up and pitch better for Florida, and he always seems to have success against the Phillies.

Tuesday: Cole Hamels (9-4, 2.41 ERA) vs Chris Volstad (4-7, 5.01 ERA)

Hamels is expected to make the start after leaving his previous appearance against Boston early with a bruised right hand. The young lefty was just named to All-Star team on Sunday for the second time in his career, and the first time since 2007. He hasn’t received a win in any of his last three starts despite pitching well. He has a lifetime record of 5-7 with an ERA of 3.50 against the Marlins.

Volstad, once viewed as one of Florida’s stronger pitching prospects after a solid rookie season in 2008, has been mediocre ever since his first year in the league. He’s had an ERA above five all season, though he enjoyed a solid month of June, posting a 2-3 record with a 3.83 ERA. Volstad was pounded by the Phillies earlier in the season on June 14^th for eight runs in just five and two thirds on an inning.

Advantage: Cole Hamels

Hamels should be good to go despite the injury to his right hand. He’s due for a win after receiving a losing decision in two of his last three starts. Volstad was beat up by the Phillies offense earlier in the season, and even though he’s been pitching better as of late, he’s not good enough to outduel Hamels.

Wednesday: Kyle Kendrick (4-4, 3.81 ERA) vs Anibal Sanchez (6-2, 3.30 ERA)

Kendrick makes his second start since taking for Roy Oswalt’s slot in the rotation. His last start in Toronto yielded mixed results. He lasted seven innings, but also gave up six runs, and received a no decision. He made a brutal mistake in that game, giving Toronto slugger Jose Bautista a fastball right in the middle of the strikezone, which Bautista hit out of the yard. The righthander would be much more effective if he could learn to be a smarter pitcher. He started a game against Florida several weeks ago, meeting with great success, giving up one run on five hits in seven innings of work.

Sanchez has been one of Florida’s best pitchers this season. He can consistently go deep into games, and pitches seven innings a start quite regularly. However, the Phillies have had his number, Sanchez has a 3-7 record with a 5.35 ERA against Philadelphia. He also comes off of a tough outing against the Rangers, where he gave up seven runs and didn’t make it out of the fourth inning.

Advantage: Anibal Sanchez

It’s hard to imagine Kendrick repeating the success he had against the Marlins several weeks ago, and its also hard to imagine Sanchez turning in back-to-back poor outings. Sanchez did turn in a strong outing in his last start against the Phillies, lasting seven innings and giving up just two runs on four hits, which gives him the advantage in this matchup.