After taking two out of three games from the New York Mets, the Phillies will travel to Chicago for a three game series against the Cubs. Here’s a look at the coming pitching matchups.
Monday: Roy Halladay (11-3, 2.45 ERA) vs Rodrigo Lopez (1-2, 4.02 ERA)
Halladay enters the game well rested after having thrown just two innings in the last 10 days. The reigning Cy Young Award winner faced the Cubs earlier this season, and threw seven scoreless innings against them on his way to a win. The righthander has only failed to make it through at least seven innings in three of his 19 starts this season. His last appearance at Wrigley Field came exactly one year ago today and didn’t go well, the ace allowed six runs over six innings.
Lopez, who once pitched for the Phillies in 2009, has been used as a starter and a reliever for Chicago. This will be the veteran’s fifth start of the season. His last two starts have been successful, pitching seven scoreless innings against the White Sox, and allowing three runs in six innings against the Pirates. He’s faced the Phillies twice this season out of the bullpen, and has not allowed a run in three innings.
Advantage: Roy Halladay
Extra rest for Halladay makes this matchup even more one-sided. Lopez doesn’t have any kind of overwhelming stuff, and the Phillies offense should be able to put up enough runs to properly support their ace.
Tuesday: Cliff Lee (9-6, 2.82 ERA) vs Matt Garza (4-7, 3.97 ERA)
Like Halladay, Lee comes into this game with a great amount of rest. He dominated the Cubs in his last start, allowing just one run over eight innings. He’s been brilliant against the Cubs in his career, holding a 4-0 record and an ERA of 1.59 in five career starts. The lefty has had most of his struggles on the road this season, he is 2-5 and has an ERA of 4.73 away from Philadelphia this year.
Chicago had high hopes for Garza when they acquired him in a deal with Tampa Bay, but he’s only been average for them. In 17 starts, he’s only pitched through seven innings or more five times. However, he has shown signs of improvement over his last four starts. He’s thrown at least seven innings in three of the four games, including a complete game effort against the White Sox. He’s 1-1 with an ERA of 1.29 in two starts against the Phillies.
Advantage: Cliff Lee
Garza has been difficult for the Phillies to solve in the past, and if he continues his efficient play from recent weeks the Phillies may struggle against him again. However, Lee’s extended rest and lifetime dominance over the Cubs gives him the edge.
Wednesday: Vance Worley (5-1, 2.15 ERA) vs Ryan Dempster (7-6, 4.68 ERA)
Worley continues to enjoy success in his first extended action with the Phillies, earning another victory against the Mets last Friday. However, the young righthander wasn’t as sharp as he had been in his previous outings. He walked four batters (a problem that plagued him in his earlier starts) and had a pitch count of 105 before being removed from the game during the sixth inning.
Dempster has some poor numbers, but that is thanks to an extremely poor April. He finished the first month of the season with a 1-3 record and an ERA of 9.58 after his first six starts. After April, he’s settled down and returned to being a quality starter for the Cubs. His ERA for May was 3.08 and 3.13 for June. His last start came against the Marlins, and resulted in eight scoreless innings.
Advantage: Ryan Dempster
Dempster is playing at a much higher level than his initial numbers suggest. Can Worley continue to sustain his success? I have my doubts, but the young hurler performs well when I pick against him, so here’s to hoping that trend continues.
Phils should prevail and win 2 out of 3 from the Cubbies..
Enjoy watching their SS Castro and 2B D Barney as they form one of the best young middle infielders combo in all of MLB
3B A Ramirez and 1B C Pena has been hot lately and Ramirez always plays well versus the Phils..
On a side note, don’t be surprised if Phils make a move for Cubs M Byrd..
paulman, all knowing on all matters, even the obscure cubs,
Cubs….haha..just what the Doctor ordered.
Easy Jake,
Just part of my “Community Service” as part of my Plea Bargain agreement…
Denny, your predictions suck worse than Paulmans. Stop it already.
Looks like Paulman was all over it with Ramirez/Pena coming up with big hits..
President Obama has asked me to come to the White House to help predit the Debt-Cieling Negoitiations as well advise on how Chicago Sport Teams (Cubs,WHite Sox,Bears,Bulls) can improve and win Championships.. and then his re-election campaign..
Paulman what’s with you referring to yourself in the 3rd person??? “Looks like Paulman was all over it”??? Really???
Paulman predicted Halladay heat stroke too but forgot to mention that….
I just enjoy pissing you guys off..Anyone notice the Braves are 2.5 games back..
I expect by Mid-August it will be the Phillies chasing the Braves for 1st place..
This Phillie line-up is getting more difficult to watch..
They are making these Cubs Pitchers look like Cy Young Pitchers..
M Garza is pretty good, but come on.. Rollins,Utley and Howard look completely lost up there… They take 1st ball fastballs right down the pike and the swing a curves/sliders at their ankles… This team collectively take too many Pitches and need to be more aggressive at the plate earlier in the counts… Going against a Pitcher who is wild are not in command, then take pitches, but if a Pitcher is around the plate and has good command, then as a batter, you need to be more agressive earlier in the count which is going to be your best opportunity to get a pitch you can do something with…
Wow, Francisco,Rollins and Martinez with 3 hits in a row… I just witnessed something that will probably never occur again in my lifetime..This would be a big-time come-back win and a good reason the Cubs are 20 games below .500
The Cubs have a decent line-up but their Bullpen has been brutal