Phillies Take First
Ryan Howard’s bat and Brad Lidge’s guile have helped push the Philadelphia Phillies atop the NL East.
Rookie J.A. Happ will make only his third start this year, and first in more than two months as Philadelphia continues its three-game series with the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night at Turner Field.
Oddsmakers from SBG Global have made Philadelphia -115 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has been set at 9 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 67% of bets for this game have been placed on Philadelphia -115 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
With only 11 games remaining, Manuel tapped J.A. Happ (0-0, 5.71 ERA) to take Kyle Kendrick’s spot in the rotation for this contest. Kendrick, an 11-game winner, allowed seven runs and six hits in 1 1-3 innings in a 10-8 loss to Florida last Tuesday, and he’s given up 13 runs in only 5 1-3 innings over two starts this month.
"I feel like Kyle mentally needs a break,” Manuel said Tuesday before the Phillies’ 8-7 win over the Braves that pushed Philadelphia past the New York Mets into first place in the East. "He’s mentally and physically in a down period right now I think.”
Manuel also said the decision was based in part on the fact the Braves haven’t faced Happ.
The left-hander was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on July 4, and recorded a 3.27 ERA in two starts. He’s been dreadful in three relief appearances since Aug. 5, allowing seven runs and 10 hits over 6 1-3 innings for a 9.95 ERA.
Happ understands this start will be his most important of the year.
"It’s one of those things, where you get butterflies until you get through that first inning, that first hitter,” he said.
Having Howard and Lidge around may make Happ feel a little better.
Howard’s fourth hit of the game on Tuesday – a two-run homer in the eighth – gave the Phillies an 8-7 lead. Lidge then stayed perfect in save opportunities this year, notching his 37th by striking out Gregor Blanco in the ninth to escape a bases-loaded jam.
The Phillies’ fifth consecutive win came shortly after the Mets fell 1-0 to last-place Washington. Philadelphia now holds a one-half game lead over New York and are not scheduled to meet again this season.
Howard, who finished a double shy of the cycle, is batting .396 this month with eight homers and 22 RBIs. Though he’s hitting just .249 overall, he also leads the majors with 45 homers and 136 RBI.
Over the last four Septembers, Howard has hit a major league-leading 38 homers, and had no explanation for that success.
"Maybe it’s just the pennant races are heating up,” he said. "I’m just trying to go out there and do what I can to help my team.”
Howard’s only hit in six career plate appearances against rookie Jair Jurrjens (13-9, 3.62), the Braves’ scheduled starter in this contest, was a solo homer.
Jurrjens has easily emerged as the ace of Atlanta’s staff this year, posting 16 quality starts among his 29 outings. He looks to become the first Braves rookie to win 14 games since 1983, when Craig McMurtry went 15-9.
"If I get it, I get it," Jurrjens told the Braves’ official Web site. "Right now, I’m just thinking about quality starts."
Jurrjens, who also leads all rookies in wins, is 1-1 with a 2.40 ERA against Philadelphia this season. He gave up three hits with a walk and six strikeouts over eight innings on July 25 in an 8-2 home win over the Phillies.
The right-hander is 2-0 in his last four starts despite a 6.30 ERA. Facing Colorado on Thursday, Jurrjens gave up four runs and eight hits over six innings with 10 strikeouts in the 8-4 victory to cap a three-game sweep.
Brian McCann had three hits and two RBIs for the Braves (64-87) on Tuesday. He’s hitting .481 (13-for-27) during a seven-game hitting streak, but hasn’t hit a homer in his last 14 games. McCann, who leads Atlanta with 23 homers, hit a career-best 24 in 2006.
Did you like this article? Subscribe to our Baseball news feed for the fastest updates delivered right to you – Click here to Subscribe