2011 Opening Day Preview- Phillies vs Astros - philliesfan136's Dynasty

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2011 Opening Day Preview- Phillies vs Astros

Posted on June 20, 2011 at 05:05 PM.

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PHILADELPHIA-
For Opening Day this year, the Phils' will play the first of a three-game series against the Astros. After the team's offseason acquisition of Cliff Lee and its already impressive rotation, you could say that the Phillies definitely have the upper hand going into this series.

As for the pitching matchup,it's the 2010 NL Cy Young Award Winner Roy Halladay going for the Phils, and he'll be opposed by 32-year-old left-hander Wandy Rodriguez. Here's a look at their respective 2010 stats:

Phillies vs Astros: Tale of The Tape
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RHP Roy Halladay
33 GS,250.2 IP,21-10,
2.44 ERA, 219 K,.245 BAA
2010 NL Cy Young

vs

LHP Wandy Rodriguez
32 GS, 195 IP, 11-12
3.60 ERA, 178 K,.250 BAA
20.2 IP, 2-1, 3.05 ERA,
20 K in past 5 years vs PHI

It looks as though the Phillies' ace is primed to start off the season with a win against a fairly poor Astros lineup,besides Hunter Pence, Brett Wallace,Michael Bourn,and Chris Johnson.
On that note, here are tonight's starting lineups:

Starting Lineups
---------------------------------
Astros
Clint Barmes SS
Chris Johnson 3B
Hunter Pence CF
Carlos Lee LF
Brett Wallace 1B
Jason Michaels RF
Humberto Quintero C
Jeff Keppinger 2B
Wandy Rodriguez P

at

Phillies
Jimmy Rollins SS
Placido Polanco 3B
Chase Utley 2B
Ryan Howard 1B
Shane Victorino CF
Ben Francisco LF
Domonic Brown RF
Carlos Ruiz C
Roy Halladay P

Injuries during Spring Training caused both teams to lose a starting outfielder for the start of the season. An injury to Michael Bourn causes Hunter Pence to shift over from right field to center, therefore Jason Michaels is in right field tonight for the Astros. For the Phillies, Raul Ibanez is out of the lineup tonight with a torn groin muscle. Ouch. The injury will keep Raul out up to 12 days. For now, Ben Francisco will take his place in the lineup. Elsewhere, Chase Utley returns from surgery and Dom Brown is in as the starting right fielder for the Phils this year.

Summary:
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Roy Halladay faces a somewhat weak lineup in the Astros'. Chase Utley returns. If the Phils want to win, all they need to do is give Roy Halladay a few runs.

This has been our Opening Day preview. Next up will be the results of Game 1 between the Phillies and the Astros.