Phillies-Rockies Game 1 preview

Citizens Bank Park, 2:37 p.m.

TV: TBS. Radio: WPHT (1210), WUBA (1480), ESPN (950)

Weather: Mostly sunny, high 60s, windy.

Game Line: Phillies -$125; Rockies +$115

Over/Under: 8 Runs.

Series Line: Phillies -$160; Rockies +$140.

REGULAR SEASON

2009: 14-13; 3.22 ERA; 34 games/34 starts; 9.52 hits/9 innings; 4.21 strikeouts/walks; 17 home runs; 1-0 vs. Rockies

Career: 90-52; 3.97 ERA; 194 games/190 starts; 9.21 hits/9 innings; 2.71 strikeouts/walks; 134 home runs; 1-0 vs. Rockies.

POSTSEASON

No record/stats

Last start: Oct. 1 vs. Astros (L), 5 2/3 innings pitched, 7 hits, 4 runs, 6 strikeouts

REGULAR SEASON

2009: 15-12; 3.47 ERA; 33 games/33 starts; 7.56 hits per 9 innings; 2.33 strikeouts/walks; 13 home runs; 0-0 vs. Phillies

Career: 31-28; 3.80; 84 games/83 starts; 7.82 hits per 9 innings; 1.93 strikeouts/walks; 35 home runs; 0-1 vs. Phillies.

POSTSEASON

2009: No stats

Career: 0-1; 2.25 ERA; 3 games/3 starts; 6.19 hits per 9 innings; 1.00 strikeouts/walks; 1 home run; 0-0 vs. Phillies

Last start: Oct. 2 at Dodgers (W), 6 innings pitched, 2 hits, 1 run, 10 strikeouts.

1. 3-2-1, contact: Jimenez struck out at least seven batters in 12 of his 33 starts and is second among NL postseason pitchers in regular-season K's. Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth ranked second and fourth in the NL, respectively, in K's this season. Then again, no NL playoff team struck out more than the Rockies.

2. Be patient: Jimenez will walk batters, too; he was sixth in walks. When he tames that tendency, he is awesome, and that has been the case lately. He is 9-3 in his last 15 starts and lasted at least six innings in 14 of them, at least seven innings in 10 of them. So, get him out of there by the fifth, eh?

3. Catch for Cliff: Sometimes, what a pitcher like Lee (not a lot of K's, not a lot of walks, a lot of location) needs is real defense - a play or two made behind him that is part anticipation (if he's locating), part athleticism, part guts. Be realistic: The Phils need a 4-run lead entering the eighth. Lee, sharp, plus defense gets them that.