The Phillies come into this series 77-54 with an 8.5 game lead over the Braves and Marlins. They just finished a three-game series with the Giants, winning two of them, in which Pedro beat Lincecum last night in a 2-1 pitchers duel. Their last road trip saw them go 4-3, actually losing a three-game series at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. Oh yeah, and they 41-23 on the road. That's gross.
Wandy Rodriguez
Wandy hasn't faced the Phillies since September 2006, but he is neck-and-neck with Michael Bourn for Team MVP. That said, he has a two game losing streak for the third time this season (May 25 @ CIN / May 30 @ PIT; 7/27 @ CHC / 8/1 @ STL - though he allowed 2ER in 11IP in those Cubs/Cards games and took the loss in both.
Last three starts:
| Date-Opp | IP | H/ER | K:BB | GB/FB | Pit/Str |
| 8/20 vFLA | 8 | 4/0 | 7:2 | 10/10 | 103/70 |
| 8/25 @StL | 7 | 3/1 | 6:1 | 8/10 | 93/64 |
| 8/30 @ARI | 6 | 7/4 | 7:3 | 8/9 | 109/65 |
Wandy's on a three-game streak of striking out 6+ batters.
2009 at home: 7-2, 1.73 ERA/1.00 WHIP, 83IP, 72K:21BB
Let's do the splits:
vs Righties: .255/.323/.415, 120K:48BB
vs Lefties: .190/.244/.278, 35K:9BB
When swinging at the first pitch (65): .308/.308/.508, 7XBH
After First-Pitch Strikes (361): .198/.235/.275, 111K:15BB
After First-Pitch Balls (268): .288/.404/.523, 44K:42BB
RISP: 32x132, .242/.318/.364, 30K:14BB
Runners on: 60x238, .252/.330/.357, 49K:25BB
2OwRISP: 16x66, .242/.351/.394, 16K:9BB
Here's something disgusting: In Wandy's wins (12 of 'em), his ERA is 0.72. In no decisions, his ERA is 2.83. In losses, his ERA is 7.14. Translation: when he loses, he loses big.
Clifton Phifer Lee
Ah hell. Cliff Lee is doing a Sabathia, and is killing the NL. In six starts with Philadelphia, Lee is 5-1 with a 1.80 ERA / 0.89 WHIP. With 44K:6BB. Six walks! In 45 innings. Six! His Hits/9 is 6.8 - three H/9 lower than what it was in Cleveland. And his K/9 ratio is 8.8 - 2.5 higher than what it was in Cleveland. This could either be a great game, or it could be absolutely terrible.
Last three appearances:
| Date-Opp | IP | H/ER | K:BB | GB/FB | Pit/Str |
| 8/19 vARI | 9 | 2/1 | 11:0 | 8/11 | 106/81 |
| 8/24 @NYM | 7 | 6/2 | 5:0 | 10/11 | 113/83 |
| 8/29 vATL | 5 | 10/6 | 5:0 | 7/13 | 93/64 |
2009 road: 7-3, 2.67 ERA/1.15 WHIP, 101IP, 70K:20BB
Let's do the splits:
vs Righties: .276/.314/.391, 117K:34BB
vs Lefties: .242/.261/.314, 34K:5BB
When swinging at the first pitch (93): .207/.200/.333, 7XBH (2HR)
After First-Pitch Strikes (434): .254/.279/.375, 103K:11BB
After First-Pitch Balls (288): .298/.362/.373, 48K:28BB
RISP: 35x155, .226/.267/.335, 31K:12BB
Runners on: 72x329, .219/.255/.304, 73K:18BB
2OwRISP: 16x77, .208/.274/.260, 13K:7BB
