Phillies Notebook: Hamels has a rooting interest in All-Star Game

The Phillies have spent the past 3 years collecting Cy Youngcaliber pitchers as if they were stamps. But at the unofficial midway point of the season, their top candidate for this year's award just might be the guy who has been with the team all along.

After holding the Braves to one run in eight innings in yesterday's 14-1 victory, Cole Hamels ranks in the top five in the National League in nearly every major pitching category with a 2.32 ERA (third behind Atlanta's Jair Jurrjens and San Francisco's Ryan Vogelsong), 132 innings (behind Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee) and 121 strikeouts (fifth behind Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw, Halladay, Lee and San Francisco's Tim Lincecum).

Last night, Hamels, Halladay and Lee flew to Phoenix to take part in the All-Star Game festivities. Because Hamels started yesterday, he is ineligible to appear in the game. But the Phillies don't mind because they'll have their 27-year-old starter available to pitch Saturday. And Hamels does not sound too upset either.

"It'll be fun really just to enjoy it and not stress about it," Hamels said. "Knowing that the game does matter, you want to have home-field advantage [in the World Series], you don't want to be that guy that gave it up for the National League. So I think that I can just go out and root on my teammates and really just kind of enjoy the moment."

While closer Ryan Madson is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Wednesday in Clearwater, Fla., and could be activated when the season resumes Friday in New York, the Phillies could be without Jose Contreras for a significant amount of time after a setback in his recovery from an right elbow strain. The righthander, who has appeared in just 17 games thanks to two stints on the disabled list, is scheduled to fly to Los Angeles to visit specialist Lewis Yocum. Contreras, who opened the season as the team's closer and was expected to play a key role in the bullpen this year and next, has not pitched since June 19.

Roy Oswalt had a series of injections administered to his back, which has two bulging disks that are expected to sideline him until at least late-July. The righthander, who has not pitched since leaving a start against the Cardinals after three innings on June 23, is scheduled to rejoin the team on Friday in New York . . . Righthander Brad Lidge logged his third rehab appearance on Saturday, blowing a save while allowing one run at Class A Lakewood. His next appearance is scheduled for today in Double A Reading. There is still no timetable for his return. He is expected to need plenty of time to regain his arm strength after missing the last week of spring training and the entire season up to this point . . . Righthander Joe Blanton (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session today, although the Phillies have not announced any plans for a rehab assignment.

Vance Worley will start against the Mets on Friday and likely will be followed by Cole Hamels on Saturday. Pitching coach Rich Dubee said he was uncertain about the rest of his rotation for the Phillies' first two series of the second half, in New York against the Mets and in Chicago against the Cubs . . . Third baseman Placido Polanco's balky back will keep him out of tomorrow's All-Star Game, where he was supposed to start at third. Polanco still will attend the festivities, along with injured centerfielder Shane Victorino (thumb) . . . The Phillies are 57-34. The only other time they had 57 wins at the All-Star break was 1993, when they were 57-32 . . . The Phils have won eight straight series at Citizens Bank Park and 12 of 16 for the season (they've tied two) . . . The Phillies' 20 hits were a season high. Third baseman Michael Martinez set a career-high with four hits. The Rule 5 pick, who has been filling in for Polanco, has five hits in his last six at-bats.