Game 2: Against a lefty, status quo for Phillies lineup
Charlie Manuel made no changes to his lineup for Game 2 after scoring five runs opening night. The same unit will play behind Roy Halladay, who is shooting for his 200th career win.
Game 2: Against a lefty, status quo for Phillies lineup
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
ATLANTA — Charlie Manuel made no changes to his lineup for Game 2 after scoring five runs opening night. The same unit will play behind Roy Halladay, who is shooting for his 200th career win.
Even with a lefty, Paul Maholm, pitching for Atlanta, Manuel saw no need for a different combination.
"I've got the same lineup," Manuel said. "I don't know how much more I can change. It is what it is. I can change anything I want to. But that's what it is."
It's true. Without Carlos Ruiz or Delmon Young, two future lineup cogs, flexibility is limited.
If Halladay wins, he would be the 112th pitcher in baseball history to reach 200 victories. Halladay has a 7.44 ERA in his last six starts vs. the Braves. Manuel said he broached the subject of bumping Halladay to the weekend.
"I said something to him about it," Manuel said. "How do you feel? Are you ready to pitch?"
Halladay's response?
"Yeah. I wanted to to pitch the first game but you didn't want me to."
Manuel chuckled.
"That was a good answer," he said. "That was all right. That's the kind of answer you like."
PHILLIES
1. Ben Revere 8
2. Jimmy Rollins 6
3. Chase Utley 4
4. Ryan Howard 3
5. Michael Young 5
6. Domonic Brown 7
7. John Mayberry Jr. 9
8. Erik Kratz 2
9. Roy Halladay 1
BRAVES
1. Andrelton Simmons 6
2. Jason Heyward 9
3. Justin Upton 7
4. Freddie Freeman 3
5. B.J. Upton 8
6. Dan Uggla 4
7. Juan Francisco 5
8. Evan Gattis 2
9. Paul Maholm 1
Freeman is one player to specifically watch. He has seven hits in 15 at-bats against Halladay. Three of those hits are home runs.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
This could get real ugly, real fast tonight, fellas. Like 8-2 in the 2nd inning. Maybe the reason they had Durbin pitch last night, knowing that they'd probably need 3-4 innings from Valdes tonight.— Mark1npt- The self-proclaimed hitting guru has spoken, but I'm too busy preparing for the WS parade down Broad Street in the Fall. I just reserved my parking spot... two cones, 3 lawn chairs and a antique wheelbarrow, check!— APhillyDump
