Chase Utley led the Phillies offense yet again yesterday afternoon, foing 3-3 with a HR and two runs scored. Cliff Lee manned the mound well and was back to "normal". After allowing 8 ER in his first start of the year last Monday, Lee held the Cubbies scoreless through seven innings – earning his second win of the year. Today the Phillies will go for the sweep as they send A.J. Burnett (0-0, 1.50 ERA) to the mound against the Cubs and their starter Carlos Villanueva (0-2, 13.50 ERA).
A.J. Burnett was solid in his regular season Phils debut on Tuesday against the Rangers. Tossing six frames of one-run ball on seven hits accompanied by three strike outs, Burnett took the no-decision. The Phillies would go on to lose the game on a walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth inning. Command is still an issue for Burnett, who walked two in his last start. Throwing 97 pitches Tuesday, only 62 were for strikes. He will look to keep runners off the bases today as he takes on a Cubs lineup that he knows well. In nearly 70 innings pitched against the Cubs, Burnett owns a 7-2 record and a 2.99 ERA.
Carlos Villanueva began the season as a relief pitcher but is making his first start of the season today. In 1 1/3 innings of work this year, Villanueva has cost the Cubs two losses and has accumulated a 13.50 ERA. In his last appearance, against the Pirates on Wednesday, Villanueva served up an earned run in the loss. Last season, Villanueva went 1-7 in 15 starts – he is hoping to turn that around this season as he takes on the Phillies. In 26 career innings against Philadelphia, he owns a 2-0 record and a 1.71 ERA.
Game Notes:
- In five games this year, Chase Utley is hitting .476 (10-for-21) with 2 HR and 5 RBI.
- In this series, the Phillies' bullpen has turned it around and has not allowed a hit in 5 2/3 innings of work.
- So far this season, the Cubs' starters have compiled a 1.95 ERA.
Today's lineups:
Phillies lineup:
- Ben Revere CF
- Jimmy Rollins SS
- Chase Utley 2B
- Ryan Howard 1B
- Marlon Byrd RF
- Domonic Brown LF
- Wil Nieves C
- Cody Asche 3B
- A.J. Burnett P
Cubs lineup:
- Emilio Bonafacio 2B
- Ryan Kalish LF
- Anthony Rizzo 1B
- Nate Schierholtz RF
- Luis Valbuena 3B
- Starlin Castro SS
- Ryan Sweeney CF
- John Baker C
- Carlos Villanueva P
First Pitch: 2:20 PM ET
Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Weather: 50° – Partly Cloudy – 0% Precip
TV: CSN
Erik Seybold is a writer for Philliedelphia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ErikSeyboldPHI.
