The Phillies enter tonight's game nine games under .500 and ten games back in the Wild Card. At 57-66 and 39 games left to play, there's a slim – and I mean slim – mathematical possibility that the Phillies could make the playoffs with a Wild Card berth. After winning the series opener against the Reds on Monday, the Phillies were unable to mount a second consecutive win against the NL Central leaders last night. Tonight it's a duel of righty pitchers in game three of this four-game set. Vance Worley (6-8, 4.11 ERA) will take on Bronson Arroyo (9-7, 3.96 ERA) in an effort to take a series lead.
Worley has been inconsistent this year. Is he tipping off his pitches, is he just not finding the zone, is it the bone chips in his elbow? Call it what you will, but so far this season Worley has not been the same pitcher he was last year. In Worley's last start, a four and two-thirds outing against Milwaukee, he allowed four runs on seven hits in a losing effort. With a 2-3 record and a 5.35 ERA in seven starts since the All-Star break, it's time to shut Worley down for the season. A young pitcher + bone chips + rough outings = time to shut him down. In Worley's career against the Reds, he is 1-0 with a 5.73 ERA.
Bronson Arroyo is coming off of a win in his last start. On Friday against the Cubs, Arroyo tossed 6 1/3 innings. Arroyo allowed three earned runs on nine hits while walking three and striking out three. Reaching his 2011 season-high in wins (11) in his last start, Arroyo is looking to reach double digits in wins for the first time since 2010 when he won 17 games. Over his last three, Arroyo is 2-1 with a 4.58 ERA. Arroyo does not have a good history against the Phils in his career, in 47 innings pitched against the Phillies, Arroyo is 1-7 with a 7.28 ERA.
Photo Courtesy: Huggins & Scott Auctions
Tonight is '90s Retro Night at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies and Reds will pay homage to their early 1990s teams as they sport their respective uniforms of that era. The Phillies will be wearing their Veterans Stadium-era marron jerseys with the maroon cap tagged with the classic monogramed "P" on the front. In the same unis that Mickey Morandini, John Kruk, Lenny Dykstra, Darren Daulton, Terry Mulholland and Mitch “Wild Thing” Williams all sported, the Phils will hope it can bring them some good luck against the Reds tonight. The Reds will wear their uniforms from 1990, the year they won the World Series.
Tonight's lineup vs Reds:
- Rollins SS
- Pierre LF
- Utley 2B
- Howard 1B
- Mayberry CF
- Brown RF
- Polanco 3B
- Schneider C
- Worley P.
TV: CSN ; Radio: 1210 WPHT, 94 WIP.
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