The Phillies wrap up a three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals Sunday in South Philadelphia. The two teams are split after last night's extra inning Phillies loss. Both bullpens are pretty tired, so both teams will look to their starters to go deep.
The Phillies send to the mound Jerome Williams. Williams was picked up off of waivers from the Texas Rangers on August 10. Williams has started twice for the Phillies, and he has not disappointed. Williams' first outing was a five and one-third inning outing in which he allowed just two earned runs. Williams' last outing, against the Seattle Mariners, was perhaps his strongest of the year in three teams. Williams went seven innings, allowing just one run on three hits and four walks.
The Cardinals look to trade deadline acquisition Justin Masterson. Masterson was supposed to have a breakout year for the Cleveland Indians. The Indians reportedly offered Masterson two years and $28 million, with an option for a third year. Masterson was seeking the $17.5 million a year that Homer Bailey got from the Reds. Instead, the two teams broke off talks, Masterson had the worst April, May, June and July of his career, and was dealt to the Cardinals.
Masterson's Cardinals tenure has been as bad as his Indians tenure this season. In four starts, Masterson has a 6.30 ERA. He does have two wins from those four starts; one was good, the other was a poor start. In the one win, Masterson went seven scoreless innings. In the other, Masterson went six innings and allowed five runs. The seven inning outing is the only outing of Masterson's in which he went more than six innings.
Game Notes:
- Marlon Byrd gets a rest as the Phillies send a very left-handed lineup out today to face righty Justin Masterson
- Jerome Williams and Grady Sizemore are both in today's lineup. Both could be competing for spots in 2015.
- The Cardinals enter today just a half-game behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central.
Phillies Lineup:
- Ben Revere CF
- Jimmy Rollins SS
- Chase Utley 2B
- Ryan Howard 1B
- Grady Sizemore, RF
- Domonic Brown LF
- Wil Nieves C
- Cody Asche 3B
- Jerome Williams P
Cardinals Lineup:
- Matt Carpenter 3B
- Kolten Wong 2B
- Matt Holliday LF
- Matt Adams 1B
- Jhonny Peralta SS
- Jon Jay CF
- Oscar Taveras RF
- Tony Cruz C
- Justin Masterson P
