For a good while yesterday, it looked like the Phillies were going to be no-hit by Rockies starter Chad Bettis. The rookie Bettis got all the way into the eighth inning before a questionable defensive alignment – a shift against left fielder Cody Asche – led to a single right to the shortstop's usual position. The Phillies bats hope to show up a little bit today as they take on Jorge De La Rosa.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Colorado Rockies(20-26) | Philadelphia Phillies (19-31) |
|---|
| RHP | Eddie Butler | RHP | Aaron Harang | ||
| (2-5, 4.60 ERA) | (4-4, 1.93 ERA) | ||||
Jorge De La Rosa, scheduled to start today, is considered the Rockies' number one starter, though the numbers would not seem to indicate it. De La Rosa missed his last starter with a cut on his finger that was painful enough that it affected how he threw the ball. The cut happened when the Phillies were in Denver last week while warming up to face the Phillies. De La Rosa lasted just four and one-third innings against the Phillies, who tagged him for three runs.
Just hours before the first pitch, De La Rosa was scratched once again. Eddie Butler, a regular member of the Rockies starting rotation, will pitch today. Thanks to some scheduled off days, Butler will be pitching on regular rest. Jordan Lyles will pitch tomorrow as scheduled as the Phillies and Rockies finish their three-game series in South Philadelphia.
Harang has continued to reinvent himself this season for the Phillies. With a 1.93 earned run average, Harang places sixth in the National League in that category. Harang was a guest on MLB Network Radio with Jim Bowden and Jim Memolo yesterday and attributed to his success not worrying about giving up home runs, as many do at Citizens Bank Park. Harang said pitching in Cincinnati
Starting Lineups:
| Colorado Rockies(20-26) | Philadelphia Phillies (19-31) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | CF | Charlie Blackmon | L | 1 | CF | Ben Revere | L |
| 2 | 2B | DJ Lemahieu | R | 2 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S |
| 3 | RF | Carlos Gonzalez | L |
3 |
2B | Chase Utley | L |
| 4 | SS | Troy Tulowitski | R | 4 | 1B | Ryan Howard | L |
| 5 | 3B | Nolan Arenado | R | 5 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R |
| 6 | 1B | Ben Paulsen | L | 6 | LF | Cody Asche | L |
| 7 | C | Mike McHenry | R | 7 | RF | Jeff Francoeur | R |
| 8 | LF | Brandon Barnes | R | 8 | C | Carlos Ruiz | R |
| 9 | P | Eddie Butler | R | 9 | P | Aaron Harang | R |
Game Notes:
- Despite the Phillies and Rockies facing each other seven times in a two-week span, the Phillies will completely miss their former starter, Kyle Kendrick.
- The Denver Post notes that De La Rosa has a 5.34 lifetime ERA at Citizens Bank Park, though he has two consecutive wins against the Phillies there.
- Cody Asche broke up a potential no-hitter by Chad Bettis in the eighth inning last night in his first game back from AAA Lehigh Valley. Ubaldo Jimenez has the only no-hitter in Rockies history.
- Troy Tulowitski was homer-less until facing the Phillies last night, when he hit two home runs. When healthy, Tulowitski is one of the game's most-feared hitters. Tulowitski has spent significant time on the disabled list four of the last five seasons.
- Phillies fans attending today's game can adopt a pet. During "Bark at the Park" the Pennsylvania SPCA will be at Citizens Bank Park with some animals available for adoption.
Broadcast Information:
- First-pitch: 3:05 pm EST
- TV: CSN Philly
- Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, SBP 1480 (Sp.)
What's Next:
Sunday, May 31, 2015: vs. Colorado Rockies, 1:35 pm
- RHP Jordan Lyles (2-5, 5.10 ERA) vs. RHP Jerome Williams (4-4, 5.33 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, SBP 1480 (Sp.)
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