Phils-Jays Preview

The Phils welcome in the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday for the start of a 3 game set. The Phillies come in leading the NL East by 4 games and are looking to change their fortunes at home, where they are 13-16 but with 5 of those wins coming against the Washington Nationals, the AAA affiliate of the rest of baseball.

The Jay birds come in at 34-31, 5 games back in the AL East. The Phillies catch a break missing, arguably the best pitcher in the game, Roy "Doc" Halliday. Former Phil and a guy Dirty Wudders is still mad at, Scott Rolen, is leading the Blue Jays with a .320 AVG. If he thinks St. Louis was baseball heaven, I wonder how Toronto compares. Aaron Hill leads the team with 14 home runs. Former Phil Rod Barajas is also a Jay hitting .268 with 4 homers and former manager Nick Leyva is the 3rd base coach.

Let's take a look at the Matchups:

Tuesday: Ricky Romero, LHP (3-3, 3.71 ERA) vs Cole Hamels, LHP (4-2, 4.62 ERA)

Wednesday: TBA vs Jamie Moyer, LHP (4-5, 6.11)

Thursday: Casey Janssen, RHP (2-3, 6.23) vs Joe Blanton, RHP (4-3, 5.17)

Romero is coming off of a good game last Thursday in Texas allowing a run in 6+ while losing to former phill, Kevin Millwood. Hamels has been pretty bad in 2 of his last 3 starts but the one good one was one of the better performances in all of baseball this year; his shutout against the Dodgers. Outcome: 6-3 phils

Moyer has pitched very well over his last 5 starts after looking like he was finished through his first 7. He is 1-2 with a 3.77 ERA over the last 5 starts. Cito Gaston has not yet chosen a pitcher for this game, or maybe more accurately, he has not informed me who he will throw. Yes that is the same Cito Gaston who manged the Jays to the '93...I can't say it, look it up if you don't know. Outcome: 9-7 Phils

Casey Janssen has not pitched against the Phillies since he shut them out over 6 innings back in '06. Joe Blanton is 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA in his last 4 starts. Outcome 7-4 Phils

Let's go Phils