Phillies (13-9) at Diamondbacks (8-13) Preview - philliesfan136's Dynasty

philliesfan136's Dynasty Blog

Phillies (13-9) at Diamondbacks (8-13) Preview

Posted on July 21, 2011 at 04:14 AM.

(0)

PHILADELPHIA- With April coming to an end, the 13-9 Phillies are just 3 games behind the first-place Mets in the NL East. They'll play them at the end of the month in the first of five straight series against teams in the division to start off May.
But before they head home for 9 games, they travel from San Diego down to Arizona to play the 4th-place Diamondbacks.

The Phils' will send newly-acquired Gio Gonzalez to the mound, who will now start his first regular go-around in the NL. Gonzalez, who has had a decent season, will make what is his first start as a Phillie. He'll be opposed by 2008 AL All-Star Joe Saunders, who is averaging a strikeout per inning this season, although batters are hitting .283 off him. The 29-year old lefty is a combined 9-17 since going 17-7 in 2008 with the Angels. Let's look at how the two lefties are doing this season:

Phillies at Diamondbacks: Tale of The Tape
-------------------------------------------------------------
LHP Gio Gonzalez
This season: 4 GS, 25.1 IP, 2-1, 3.20 ERA, 3.67 K/BB
Last start: 4/20 vs Red Sox: 7.2 IP, 5 H, R, 6 K, 2 BB (W 4-1)

VS

LHP Joe Saunders
This season: 4 GS, 24.2 IP, 2-2, 3.28 ERA, 8.39 K/9
Last start: 4/20 vs Reds: 7.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 8 K, 1 BB (L 1-3)

Both pitchers have had decent seasons, but nothing special.
Saunders just hasn't been the same since being an All-Star in 08', and facing the Phillies offense doesn't make it any easier for him. Even playing in the hitter-friendly Chase Field might not be an advantage for the Diamondbacks offense, who are last in the MLB in hits (160), doubles (27), team RBI (53), runs scored (55), total bases (222), team average (.228), and team slugging percentage (.317). The Phillies, as we know, are in the top of the league in those categories. And with that, here's Game 1's starting lineups:

Starting Lineups
--------------------------
Phillies
Jimmy Rollins SS
Shane Victorino CF
Chase Utley 2B
Ryan Howard 1B
Domonic Brown RF
Chris Snyder C
Ben Francisco LF
Michael Martinez 3B
Gio Gonzalez P

at

Diamondbacks
Kelly Johnson 2B
Ryan Roberts 3B
Chris Young CF
Justin Upton RF
Brandon Allen 1B
Stephen Drew SS
Miguel Montero C
Gerardo Parra LF
Joe Saunders P

Although the D'Backs offense hasn't produced this season, they have plenty of good players and a nice mix of contact, power, and speed. The Phillies give Placido Polanco the day off in an effort to find more playing time for Michael Martinez.

Summary
---------------
Gio Gonzalez makes his Phillies debut. Two lefties face off. The Phillies hot lineup gets to play in hitter-friendly Chase Field. The D'Backs offense is struggling, and they have Joe Saunders on the mound.