Preview Game 92: Phillies vs. Cubs

The Phillies have beat the Cubs in a pounding and on a walk off. What will they have in store this afternoon?

A day after a pitcher's duel between former teammates, there will be quite a contrast in pitching styles today as the Cubs and Phillies wrap up a three game set in Philadelphia. Jamie Moyer will go for his team leading tenth win of the season. His opposition will be the feisty and powerful Carlos Zambrano.

Moyer has won in five straight starts and has dropped his earned run average in the process. In his last start Moyer threw seven innings of one hit ball against the Marlins in the first game after the all star break. Moyer has lowered his ERA by almost 0.50 in the last month. He will have to keep the Cubs batters off their game, as Joe Blanton and Rodrigo Lopez have done in the previous two games. Moyer is 3-0 against the team that drafted him.

The Cubs have scored just two runs in this road series and this afternoon they will look for Zambrano to put a stop to the Phillies offense. Zambrano has won in his last two starts but has failed to pitch more than six innings in each. In seven career starts Zambrano is 3-3 against the Phillies with a 3.38 ERA and only two home runs given up. The power righty has struck out 88 batters this year, but has also walked 47.

The Phillies finally jumped to over .500 at home with last night's extra inning win.. The Phillies are now 24-23 at Citizens Bank Park and have won seven straight at home. The Cubs are 20-27 on the road.

Phillies Record: 53-38
Cubs Record: 47-45

NL East Standings (Team, record, games behind)

1. PHILLIES 53-38, -
2. Braves 48-46, 6.5
3. Marlins 48-47, 7.0
4. Mets 44-49, 10.0
5. Nationals 27-66, 27.0
   

Pitching probables: Moyer (9-6, 5.58 ERA) vs. Zambrano (6-4, 3.36 ERA)

TV: Comcast Sportsnet

First pitch: 1:05pm

Season Series: Phillies lead 2-0

7.20 CHICAGO CUBS W 10-1 Preview/Open Thread/Recap
7.21 CHICAGO CUBS W 4-1 (12) Preview/Open Thread/Recap

Open thread for the game will be posted at 12:30pm. Depending on the length of the game there may not be a game recap. I am once again packing my bags and heading away for a few days, this time a camping expedition. As such regular blogging activity will be a little out of whack over the next few days.