This week's pitching match-ups
Saturday, June 9
This week's pitching match-ups
Saturday, June 9
at Orioles, 4:05
RHP Vance Worley at RHP Tommy Hunter
BREAKDOWN: Another very winnable match-up. Hunter has allowed at least five runs in three of his last five starts, and at least four in four of his last five. Nothing about his line looks good: 31 strikeouts, 14 walks and 13 home runs in 58 innings.
Sunday, June 10
at Orioles, 1:35
LHP Cliff Lee vs. RHP Jason Hammel
BREAKDOWN: Hammel has been one of the surprises of the early-going, striking out 65 while allowing seven home runs and walking 22 in 66 2/3 innings this season. But he has allowed at least four runs in three of his last six starts and has not pitched deep into games. This is one of those match-ups the Phillies must win.
Monday, June 11
OFF DAY
Tuesday, June 12
at Twins, 8:10
RHP Kyle Kendrick at RHP Nick Blackburn
BREAKDOWN: Blackburn has had a rough go of it, logging fewer than six innings in five of his eight starts this season. Blackburn recently spent a few weeks on the DL with a quad injury and allowed two runs in five innings in his return, but struck out only one.
Wednesday, June 13
at Twins, 8:10
LHP Cole Hamels at RHP P.J. Walters
BREAKDOWN: A must-win. Walters has bounced from the Cardinals to the Blue Jays to the Twins the last few seasons. The Phillies have never faced him, but in five starts heading into Friday he had allowed 13 walks and five home runs with 21 strikeouts in 31 2/3 innings. Hamels is Hamels.
Thursday, June 14
at Twins, 8:10
RHP Joe Blanton at RHP Scott Diamond
BREAKDOWN: Diamond isn't going to strike a lot of guys out -- he entered Friday with 23 in 38 2/3 innings -- but he had issued just four walks while allowing four home runs in six starts. In five of the six starts, he held his opponent to three or fewer earned runs in six or more innings.
Friday, June 15
at Blue Jays, 7:07
RHP Vance Worley at RHP Drew Hutchison
BREAKDOWN: Toronto has the ability to start ace Ricky Romero on normal rest, but that doesn't seem likely given the way the 21-year-old Hutchison has been pitching. In his last five starts heading into Friday, the rookie is 4-1 with a 2.70 ERA with 24 strikeouts and 12 walks in 30 innings. Most recently he held the Red Sox to one run ins even innings of a 5-1 win. Romero should go Saturday, followed by righty Brandon Morrow on Sunday.
