Phillies Preview: at San Diego Padres
The Philadelphia Phillies head out west for six games in SoCal, starting with three at Petco Park against the San Diego Padres.
The Phillies returned home from a long road trip to play a quick three game series with the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants at Citizens Bank Park to begin this week.
The Fightin’ Phils fought their way to victories in two of those three games, and now head right back out on the road, flying cross-country to take on two of the Giants NL West rivals, the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers, each in a three game series.
That trip begins on Friday night at Petco Park in San Diego, home of last month’s MLB All-Star Game and festivities.
The host Padres are at 47-61 on the year, sitting in 4th place in their division, trailing the Giants by 15 games. They are 10 games of the pace for the 2nd NL Wildcard spot.
The Phils are a couple of games better in the standings at 50-60, but also sit in 4th place in their own NL East Division. The club trails the Washington Nationals by a widening gap of 15 games, but is still within shouting distance of the NL Wildcard at eight games back.
With a pair of big trade deadline deals that sent starting outfielders Melvin Upton and Matt Kemp to Toronto and Atlanta respectively, the Padres are really down to just one significant offensive threat, National League All-Star and Home Run Derby participant Wil Myers.
The 25-year old 1st baseman is hitting for a .275/.353/.488 slash line with 20 homers, 66 RBI, 70 runs scored, 44 extra-base hits, and 21 stolen bases. He is a legitimate offensive force.
Switch-hitting 3rd baseman Yangervis Solarte is a 28-year old slashing .294/.356/.508 with 11 homers and 45 in just 261 plate appearances caused by a DL stint from which he just returned.
25-year old rookie Travis Jankowski is now getting regular at-bats, and speed is his calling card. The Padres’ top pick at 44th overall in the 2012 MLB Amateur Draft has 32 runs scored and 23 steals in just 198 plate appearances.
When manager Andy Green goes to his bullpen he is most likely to call upon 25-year old righty Brandon Maurer to nail down any Save opportunities, as former closer and NL All-Star Fernando Rodney was dealt away to the Miami Marlins prior to the trade deadline in yet another deal.
Righties Carlos Villanueva, Jose Dominguez, and Luis Perdomo and lefties Ryan Buchter, Brad Hand, and Matt Thornton make up a largely unimpressive grouping. The Friars’ bullpen is not, shall we say, a team strength.
Though San Diego sits just a couple of games in back of the Phillies in the overall National League standings, that was the Pads of Kemp-Upton-Rodney. The Phils are a far more talented all-around team that what is left now, and they need to take another series victory here, if not a sweep.
Next: PHILLIES - PADRES PITCHING MATCHUPS
PHILLIES – PADRES PITCHING MATCHUPS
FRIDAY: Jeremy Hellickson (8-7, 3.70 ERA) vs Christian Friedrich (4-6, 4.72 ERA):
SATURDAY: Jake Thompson (Major League debut) vs Paul Clemens (1-2, 4.70 ERA):
SUNDAY: Jerad Eickhoff (6-12, 3.68 ERA) vs Jarred Cosart (0-1, 5.09 ERA):
Next: PHILLIES KEYS TO VICTORY IN SAN DIEGO
PHILLIES KEYS TO VICTORY IN SAN DIEGO
CONTROL THE LONE BIG BAT: As stated in the overall analysis at the front of this piece, the Padres’ 1st baseman is their lone surviving NL All-Star, and he is legit. There is really no reason to give him anything at all to hit this weekend. Let the other players try to beat you should be the motto of Phillies pitching. If they do have to pitch to him, keep the ball down, and out of his wheel-house.
OFFENSIVE CONSISTENCY: Over their last nine games, the Phils have scored 13 runs, and have had nine, seven, and five-run production outings from the lineup. However, they have also been shutout once, scored just a single run on three occasions, and scored just two in the other. This team needs to start scoring more consistently if they want to make a run at the .500 mark this season.
QUALITY STARTS: A dozen of Hellickson’s 22 starts have been of the Quality Start (at least six innings, no more than three earned runs allowed) variety. Eickhoff has delivered 13 in his 22. Those are not bad totals for 3rd and 4th starters in a rotation. Problem is, the Phils have no legitimate “ace” at this point. Thompson is making his big league debut, and he has legit #2 starter potential. It would be nice if he started delivering on that potential right from the get-go.
Next: PHILLIES - PADRES TV & RADIO BROADCAST INFO
PHILLIES – PADRES BROADCAST SCHEDULE
| Friday, August 5 | @San Diego | 10:40 PM | CSN-P | 94 WIP |
| Saturday, August 6 | @San Diego | 8:40 PM | CSN-P | 94 WIP |
| Sunday, August 7 | @San Diego | 4:40 PM | CSN-P | 94 WIP |
Next: WEEKEND WEATHER FOR PETCO PARK
WEEKEND WEATHER FORECAST IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
Friday
Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 74. Light west wind increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night
Increasing clouds, with a low around 67. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 74. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the morning.
Saturday Night
Increasing clouds, with a low around 67.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 75.
Next: PHILLIES - PADRES INJURIES / DISABLED LISTS
PHILLIES – PADRES INJURIES / DISABLED LISTS
San Diego Padres
| Date | Player | Status |
| 8/2 | Alexi Amarista, SS | Strained left hamstring (on 15-day DL) |
| 7/31 | Colin Rea, P | Right elbow soreness (on 15-day DL) |
| 6/29 | Erik Johnson, P | Sprained right elbow (on 15-day DL) |
| 6/20 | Jon Jay, CF | Broken right forearm (on 15-day DL) |
| 5/29 | César Vargas, P | Right elbow soreness (on 60-day DL) |
| 5/8 | Jemile Weeks, 2B | Strained right hamstring (on 60-day DL) |
| 4/20 | Cory Spangenberg, 2B | Strained left quad (on 15-day DL) |
| 4/18 | Robbie Erlin, P | Left elbow surgery – out for season (on 60-day DL) |
| 4/5 | Tyson Ross, P | Right shoulder inflammation (on 15-day DL) |
| 4/3 | Carter Capps, P | Right elbow surgery – out for season (on 60-day DL) |
| 3/25 | Jon Edwards, P | Right elbow tightness (on 60-day DL) |
Philadelphia Phillies
| Date | Player | Status |
| 7/29 | Aaron Nola, P | Strained right elbow (on 15-day DL) |
| 7/27 | Peter Bourjos, RF | Right shoulder sprain (on 15-day DL) |
| 7/25 | Andrés Blanco, SS | Fractured left index finger (on 15-day DL) |
| 4/24 | Charlie Morton, P | Torn left hamstring – out for season (on 60-day DL) |
| 4/2 | Matt Harrison, P | Lower back inflammation (on 60-day DL) |