Phillies Seek Better Fortune Against Indians This Time Around with Pettibone On the Mound

The last time the Phillies and Indians played against each other it was a complete disaster for the Fightins. During a two-game series at Cleveland back on April 30 – May 1, the Phillies were outscored by the Indians 20-2. Both Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee were worked over by the Tribe, who had been scoring a ton of runs entering that series. This time around, with the series in Philadelphia, the Phils are looking to turn it to good fortune against the Indians. Coming off of a series split with Arizona on Sunday, the Phils will send Jonathan Pettibone (2-0, 3.63 ERA) to the hill to face the Scott Kazmir (2-1, 4.87 ERA) in game one of this two-game series.

Jonathan Pettibone took a no-decision his last time out, against the Giants on Wednesday. The righthander surrendered three runs on seven hits through 5 2/3 innings. It was the first time this season that the Phillies have not won one of his starts. Pettibone has been a great addition/fill-in to the Phillies rotation with the absence of John Lannan and Roy Halladay. Pettibone is 2-0 in his last three starts and has a 3.71 ERA in that span. Pettibone has never faced the Indians in his career.

Scott Kazmir is coming off of a great outing against the A's on Thursday. In six innings Kazmir allowed just one run on five hits while striking out 10 and walking none. Kazmir has allowed just five earned runs over his last 17 innings, as well as yielding just 15 hits, going 2-1 in that span. Kazmir is looking to continue to deal against the Phillies tonight, a team he has made just one start against, a winning start. 

Game Notes:

• Ryan Howard is hitless in nine career plate appearances against Kazmir, striking out four times and drawing two walks.
  
• One lefty getting today off is Phillies second baseman Chase Utley.  Some are questioning the off day with a day off yesterday and another on Thursday.  Is he hurt? Or, is this just a questionable managerial decision?
• The Phillies are just 6-6 this May, but have a great historical record winning at least 15 games in May in each of the last nine seasons and their overall record in that span through Sunday, 152-115 (.569), is second-best among all Major League clubs to Boston (157-112, .584 through Saturday).
• At 18-21, the Phillies sit just four games under .500 and are just 4.5 GB in the NL East.

Phillies lineup: 

1. Jimmy Rollins SS
2. Kevin Frandsen 2B
3. Michael Young 3B
4. Ryan Howard 1B
5. Delmon Young RF
6. Domonic Brown LF
7. Carlos Ruiz C
8. John Mayberry CF
9. Jonathan Pettibone P.

Indians lineup:

1. Michael Bourn CF
2. Jason Kipnis 2B
3. Asdrubal Cabrera SS
4. Nick Swisher 1B
5. Carlos Santana C
6. Mark Reynolds 3B
7. Michael Brantley LF
8. Drew Stubbs RF
9. Scott Kazmir P.

First Pitch Forecast: Partly Cloudy – 63° – 0% PoP.

TV: CSN
Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT

Let's Go Fightins!