Oswalt likely Phils starter for Game 2

WASHINGTON - Without saying it, Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee made it clear Tuesday that Roy Halladay will pitch Game 1 in the postseason against an opponent to be determined. It now appears as if Roy Oswalt will follow Halladay to the mound for Game 2 of the first-round playoff series.

"It's going to be Oswalt in Game 2, you can bet on it," a baseball source said.

Manager Charlie Manuel confirmed that Oswalt more than likely pitched his final regular-season game Tuesday against Washington when he worked five innings without allowing an earned run. The baseball source said lefthander Cole Hamels would pitch Sunday in the Phillies' season finale in Atlanta.

It would make a lot of sense regardless of the opponent for Oswalt to pitch in Game 2, but even more so if the Phillies face the Cincinnati Reds, which at the moment is the most likely scenario. By pitching the second game, Oswalt would be in the comfort zone of Citizens Bank Park, where he is 9-0 with a 2.10 ERA in 10 career starts, including 5-0 with a 1.76 ERA since joining the Phillies this season.

Oswalt also has had a dominating career against the Reds, going 23-3 with a 2.81 ERA in 32 starts. The only year he did not have success against Cincinnati was the current one. He was 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA against the Reds, with both those outings coming while he was still pitching for Houston.

Hamels also has had success against the Reds during his career, going 6-0 with a 1.07 ERA, including 72/3 shutout innings earlier this season in a home victory.

Oswalt is 10-2 with a career 2.45 ERA against San Diego and 6-8 with a 3.61 ERA against San Francisco. He had a 1.57 ERA in three starts against the Padres and was 1-3 with a 3.33 ERA in four starts against the Giants this season.

Hamels is 4-2 with a 2.75 career ERA against the Padres, including 1-1 with a 1.13 ERA in two starts this season. The lefthander is 4-2 with a career 4.67 ERA against the Giants, including a 0-1 record and 7.36 ERA in one start this year.