Before the All Star Break, John Lannan pitched two of his best games of the season, possibly his career. His last two starts against Washington and the Chicago White Sox, he pitched eight innings and only allowed one run between the two starts. He's been on a nice run and brings a career 2.81 ERA at Busch Stadium to the mound as well. He isn't a bad bet to stop the skid.
Jake Westbrook is his opponent who is the ultimate groundball pitcher. He's a master at getting hitters to ground into double plays which could make this a long night (or a quick night) for the Phillies. He's having a nice season thus far with a 2.88 ERA in 13 games. Historically he keeps his team in the game against the Phils which is kind of the story about every pitcher that faces them save for Jeremy Hefner lately.
The team's been offensively dead since last Friday when they unloaded on Hefner at Citi Field. The spark that Ben Revere was starting to set is not there now and nobody is really picking up the slack at the top of the order, save for Chase Utley. Domononic Brown gets a blow tonight. Laynce Nix takes his spot in left field and Delmon Young will bat clean up. No comment.
Interesting times as the trade deadline approaches.
ROSTER ALERT: Humberto Quintero was designated for assignment and Michael Martinez has been recalled. No comment.
LINE UPS:
PHILLIES
Rollins 6
M. Young 5
Utley4
D. Young 9
Ruf 3
Nix 7
Mayberry 8
Chooch 2
Lannan 1
CARDINALS
Carpenter 4
Robinson 8
Beltran 9
Craig 7
Molina 2
Freese 5
Adams 3
Kozma 6
Westbrook 1
