The Dodgers return home to begin a homestand, but up first is the best team and best pitcher in the National League, as Roy Halladay and Hiroki Kuroda face off in the opener. The Phillies are on pace for a staggering 105 wins this season, and have won 15 of their last 19 games.
The Phillies' top three starters have been insane this season:
| Phillies Starting Pitchers NL Ranks | ||||||
| Pitcher | ERA | ERA+ | FIP | xFIP | fWAR | bWAR |
| Roy Halladay | 2.55 (2) | 151 (3) | 2.21 (1) | 2.58 (1) | 5.9 (1) | 5.1 (1) |
| Cliff Lee | 2.96 (9) | 130 (8) | 2.72 (5) | 2.69 (2) | 4.5 (t3) | 4.2 (4) |
| Cole Hamels | 2.53 (1) | 152 (2) | 2.62 (2) | 2.85 (4) | 4.9 (2) | 4.9 (2) |
Luckily, the Dodgers only have to face two of these three this week, avoiding Cole Hamels.
Last year when the Phillies came to Los Angeles, the Dodgers were 10 games out in August, the McCourts were starting their divorce trial, and Kuroda faced Halladay in the opener. Well, that turned out okay for the Dodgers, as Kuroda took a no-hitter into the eighth inning in a 3-0 Dodger win.
Tonight, the Dodgers are again 10 games out in August, and Kuroda faces Halladay again in the opener against the Phillies. There was also more McCourt courtroom action today, involving a hearing in the case of Frank McCourt against Bingham McCutchen, the attorneys responsible for drafting the marital property agreement that was thrown out in the McCourts' divorce trial.
Rod Barajas took Halladay deep last August, and now Barajas is fresh off a 7-for-12 week. Just saying, history could repeat itself tonight.
Lineups
Dee Gordon is out for the second straight game after injuring his shoulder Saturday night while trying to run for a first down.
Shane Victorino was suspended for three games and fined an undisclosed amount for...do we really need a reason? The official reason was for his actions in Friday's brawl in San Francisco, a battle which produced no winners. But Victorino is appealing the suspension and is in tonight's lineup.
| Phillies | Dodgers | |||
| SS |
Rollins |
LF |
Gwynn |
|
| CF |
Victorino |
3B |
Blake |
|
| 2B |
Utley |
RF |
Ethier |
|
| 1B |
Howard |
CF |
Kemp |
|
| RF |
Pence |
2B |
Miles |
|
| LF |
Ibañez |
1B |
Loney |
|
| C |
Ruiz |
C |
Barajas |
|
| 3B |
Martinez |
SS |
Carroll |
|
| P |
Halladay |
P |
Kuroda |
|
Game Time: 7:10 p.m.
TV: Prime Ticket