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Sunday chat: Phillies try to put away the Brewers

The streaking Phillies go for their sixth-straight win and a sweep of the Brewers this afternoon at 1:35. Kyle Kendrick (9-7, 4.72) tries to get back on track following three bad starts in a row. Former Phil Randy Wolf (10-10, 4.76) makes his 29th start for the Brew Crew. The Phillies trail Atlanta by a game in the division race. Rookie hurlers Mike Minor and Alex Sanabia pitch for the Braves and Marlins beginning at 12:10 in Miami. Enjoy the beautiful weather and today's game everyone. [Jump to the newest comments]

Pitchers Mathieson, Worley, Robertson to arrive today

Lehigh Valley closer Scott Mathieson will be added to the Phillies active roster today, according to CSNPhilly.com insider Jim Salisbury. Meanwhile, right-hander Vance Worley and left-hander Nate Robertson will also arrive, but will be activated Monday, Salisbury reports. One of them will pitch in Monday's doubleheader, but that decision hasn't been announced by the club. Mathieson saved 26 games for the IronPigs this season, striking out 83 in 64 1-3 innings. The 26-year-old right-hander has been working to improve his secondary pitches. Worley was yanked from Friday's start after one inning, suggesting he could be the one to pitch tomorrow. Robertson was released twice this season before latching on with the Phils and hasn't been very good, but pitched six shutout frames in his most recent start with Lehigh Valley. The Phillies still trail Altanta by one game in the division, but pushed their Wild Card lead to three games following a 5-4 win over the Brewers Saturday night.

Saturday chat: Phillies eye a share of first tonight

One game separates the first-place Braves and the Wild Card-leading Phillies when the National League East leaders go back to work tonight at 7:10. Conestoga High product Dave Bush (7-11, 4.71) and Roy Halladay (16-10, 2.27) are scheduled at Citizens Bank Park. In South Florida, it's Jair Jurrjens (6-4, 4.38) and Josh Johnson (11-5, 2.28) from Sun Life Stadium. [Jump to the newest comments]

Worley a strong possibility to make Monday start

The Phillies dropped a major hint regarding their choice for Monday's second double-header starter.

Right-hander Vance Worley pitched just one inning of Friday night's start in Lehigh Valley, and according to Jeff Schuler of the Morning Call, he was greeted with a congratulatory handshake from pitching coach Rod Nichols when he was removed fro the game. The team later confirmed that the 22-year-old was not removed for injury reasons. Worley, a third-round pick in the 2008 draft, is 10-7 with a 3.36 ERA and 119/46 K/BB ratio in 158 innings between Reading and Lehigh Valley. He pitched a shutout inning of relief for the Phillies on July 24 against the Rockies, striking out a pair.

Postgame: Phillies sleepwalk through shutout victory

Summary: Cole Hamels tossed seven shutout innings and was rewarded with the win despite more minimal run support as the Phillies scraped by the Brewers 1-0 on Friday night. The Phillies plated their only run on a Carlos Ruiz RBI groundout in the second. With the Phils running on fumes, they needed a strong outing from Hamels and he delivered seven innings of three-hit ball, striking out seven. Jose Contreras and Ryan Madson also shined by posting shutout frames in the eighth and ninth with Brad Lidge unavailable. For Madson, it was his fifth save.

Game chat: Bleary-eyed Phils open with Brewers

Chris Capuano (2-2, 5.06) and Cole Hamels (8-10, 3.31) are scheduled when the Wild Card-leading Phillies return from their triumphant trip out west to begin a seven-game homestand tonight at 7:05.

Notes: Following a 6-1 road trip, the Phils hold a two-game advantage over San Francisco in the Wild Card race and trail Atlanta by two games in the division. The visiting Brewers (61-72) go with Capuano tonight, followed by Dave Bush on Saturday and Randy Wolf on Sunday. This could be a trap series considering the drain of the road trip and the Phils recent tendency to play down to lesser opponents, so a good outing by Hamels will be the key tonight. Elsewhere, Atlanta visits Florida; San Francisco goes to Los Angeles. Tonight's lineup has been posted, with Ibanez in the seven-hole and Ruiz back behind the plate. In minor league news, Phillies Dominican League pitcher Alvaro Bacil has been suspended 50 games for testing positive for PEDs. That's your fractured pregame report, hastily posted from an iPhone. Have a great night everyone.

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Breaking news: Gload activated; Dobbs returns

The next wave of Phillies roster additions has been announced.

As expected, third baseman Greg Dobbs returns to the bench following his second demotion to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he was beginning to heat up, hitting .289/.386/.579 with two homers in his last 10 games. Dobbs was taken off the 40-man roster when he was outrighted to Triple-A, so his contract was purchased and he has been added to the 40-man. Meanwhile, Ross Gload, who has been on the 15-day disabled list with a pulled groin, rejoins the club after a pair of rehab games with Single-A Clearwater. Gload benefited from regular playing time in the absence of Ryan Howard, pulling his season slash line up to .279/.333/.486. Dobbs and Gload join Mike Sweeney, Ben Francisco, Brian Schneider, Paul Hoover, Domonic Brown and Wilson Valdez on a pretty good-looking September bench.

Friday: Relentless inning a sight for sore eyes

In a circus game of highs and lows, the Phillies battled back from oblivion thanks to a nine-run inning and withstood a 20-hit barrage in a wild 12-11 victory in Colorado.

There isn’t enough time in the day to revisit everything that happened last night. You could write an entire term paper on Antonio Bastardo’s weird inning alone. In short, Blanton got bombed, the big boys broke out the Black Betsys and the bleary-eyed Phillies finally gained on the Braves. There was a time when the big-timbered, big-inning method, their propensity to surround a crooked number with a swarm of ones and zeroes, was discussed in a derogatory manner. Not anymore. This surreal game of grand slams, strange plays and suspect pitching was among the sweetest sights of the season. (Take a peek at the traffic on the previous thread if you disagree.)

Game chat: Phils stop in Denver for one-night stand

Joe Blanton (6-6, 5.15) and the Phillies wrap up their West Coast fling against Jhoulys Chacin (7-9, 3.79) and the Rockies tonight at 7:05. Brian Schneider represents the only lineup change. In news from around the organization, the Phillies won the Gulf Coast League championship this afternoon with a 10-4 victory over the Rays. Ross Gload will play his second rehab game tonight in Clearwater. No word yet on the next wave of call-ups or the emergency starter who will pitch Monday's double-header with the Marlins. [Jump to the newest comments] [In-Game Live!]

Phillies 'methodically marching' through second half

I love the phrase "methodical march." I use it every chance I get.

Scott Franzke coined it in the final days of the 2009 season to summarize the Phillies' six-month slog, and I think it applies to what's been going on with the team since the All-Star break, with a couple of key differences. The hitting is much weaker, with injuries playing a big part, but the starting staff is clearly stronger, and dare I say the back of the bullpen is in better shape (Romero's had a nice recovery lately, hasn't he?). Just to put it in perspective, a year ago, there were murmurs about using Tyler Walker in the ninth inning.

The lack of offense negatively skews perceptions since nobody wants to sit through low-scoring games night after night, plus they've been chasing the carrot since late May. But systematically, they've seized 10 of their last 12 series overall and are 28-18 since the break. They finished August with a 18-10 mark, their best month of the season, despite hitting .241 over that stretch. It's all thanks to a 2.93 August ERA. They’ve stabilized away from the Bank, winning four-straight series (9-1) to climb over .500 in out of town games (34-33).

When they stay clear of the Astros they look like a solid bet to again represent the National League in the World Series. Only this time it might be as the league’s wild card representative.

Oswalt, top of the lineup lifts Phillies to series victory

Roy Oswalt (10-13) and the Phillies' bullpen allowed just three hits, while Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley orchestrated a surprise attack against the Dodgers' left-handed hurlers, in a 5-1 Wednesday afternoon win.

Summary: Oswalt allowed just one hit but surrendered a career-high six walks to leave his shutout in the hands of the bullpen after just 6 1-3 innings. J-Roll drum-majored an extra-base hit parade by belting a lead-off home run, part of a 2-for-4 afternoon, followed by a Shane Victorino solo job in the second. Chase Utley doubled three times and knocked in runs with two of them as he continued to show signs of regaining his form. The Phils kept adding runs in the final frame against tough lefty Hong-Chih Kuo, including ground rule doubles by Domonic Brown and Utley. The Phils move on to a stop-over in Colorado having won five-of-six on this roadtrip.

Game chat: Oswalt set to deliver in series decider

Roy Oswalt (9-13, 3.12) and Clayton Kershaw (11-8, 3.01) headline the Dodgers-Phillies finale beginning at 3:10.

Notes: Paul Hoover has officially become the first September call-up. The move was catalogued today in the bustling MLB transaction feed, which you can find in the left rail in the transaction section. ... Right-handers Tyson Brummett, Justin De Fratus, Chris Kissok, BJ Rosenberg and Josh Zeid, first baseman and Beerleaguer favorite Matt Rizzotti and utilityman Tim Kennelly will participate in the Arizona Fall League. Good work by the webmasters at Phuture Phillies to scout their names from the Mesa Solar Sox roster. Lineup: Rollins, Utley, Polanco, Howard, Werth, Victorino, Ibanez, Ruiz.

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Beerleaguer for breakfast: Moyer on the mend

News and notes to get you up to speed over eggs and toast. (Actually, it's 10 a.m., so it's more like your second cup of vile office coffee while purging your inbox).

Jim Salisbury reported last night that Jamie Moyer will begin a throwing program to gauge whether he can extend his career next season. Salisbury believes that a minor league flier will be his most likely chance to land with a club in 2011, a sobering reality, but one Moyer seemed opened to. Read the full story here. ... Ross Gload is set to begin a rehab assignment. ... Reading right-hander Austin Hyatt was named Florida State League pitcher of the year ... Last night, left-hander Nate Robertson twirled six shutout innings for the IronPigs. Smart money says he's among the next wave of call-ups, with the possibility that he starts one of the double-header games against the Marlins on Monday. Greg Dobbs also homered in the game for Lehigh Valley; Dobbs is also likely to return. ... Roy Oswalt (9-13, 3.12) and Clayton Kershaw (11-8, 3.01) are scheduled for the afternoon finale set for 3:10 ET.

Postgame: Phillies blast past the Dodgers 8-4

The Phillies jumped on the Dodgers early using a pair of three-run homers, one by Brian Schneider, the other by Ryan Howard, to finish August with a win and set up a series rubber match for Wednesday afternoon. Howard's homer, a shot to straightaway centerfield, was his first since July 27. Carlos Ruiz added a two-out, two-run pinch single later on against Jonathan Broxton as the Phils continued their assault on the beleaguered stopper. Former farmhand Carlos Monestarios was chased after two innings, opening the door for Kyle Kendrick to collect his ninth win of the season, despite being one of least impressive Phillies on the field on this particular night (5 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 0 K). (AP photo)

Game chat: Skipper stays the course with offense

Brian Schneider subs for Chooch, but the rest of the lineup remains intact tonight when Kyle Kendrick (8-7, 4.64) and the Phillies face former farmhand Carlos Monasterios (3-4, 3.54) and the Dodgers.

Beerleaguer: I'm disappointed that Domonic Brown can't get on the field even against an unproven right-hander like Monasterios. Between Raul Ibanez, who's hitless in his last three games, and Shane Victorino's .667 OPS against right-handed pitching, there's room. Brown gave the offense a boost when he was in the starting lineup, and if the offense ever needed a spark, now's the time. Nevertheless, the lack of production takes root in the heart of the lineup where Chase Utley and Ryan Howard have seen their OPS totals fall .100 points from last year's final tally (Utley .801 currently, Howard .831). That's weak no matter how you spin it for a set of 3-4 hitters. To think: Utley's OPS could sink below .800 after tonight, the last day of August.

Hoover returns: Paul Hoover has won the bid to become the Phillies' third catcher in September. The Triple-A veteran will likely join the Phillies tomorrow as the first official September call-up. According to Morning Call beat writer Jeff Schuler, he's swinging a hot bat lately, hitting .385 in his last 12 games.

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Phillies nearly no-hit in shutout loss to Dodgers

Hiroki Kuroda took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and combined with reliever Hong-Chih Kuo on a one-hitter in the Dodgers 3-0 win over the Phillies Monday night. Shane Victorino's liner to shallow right with one out in the eighth accounted for the Phils' only hit. It was the 11th time the Phils have been blanked this season. Roy Halladay fell to 16-10 with most of the damage coming off the bat of Phillie killer Rod Barajas. Beerleaguer: Kuroda was a killer, but still. The offense has lost the ability to score once again. Elsewhere, the Braves won and J.A. Happ went the distance against the Cards. Good times. More tomorrow ...

Game chat: Dodgers on deck for Halladay, Phillies

Roy Halladay (16-9, 2.22) tries to continue his Cy Young push, while his club tries to solidify its playoff status, when the Phillies and Dodgers open a three-game set beginning at 10:10 ET from Chavez Ravine.

Preview: My schedule doesn't allow me to stay up for a Monday game on the West Coast, so you're on your own, kids, unless I can hit up a Clearasil-coated CSN intern for a postgame summary. Missing this isn't a big deal. With Halladay pitching, and with the offense sputtering like it has, the game will probably boil down one or two key moments, easily revisited on SportsRise. (Shameless plug after catching heat for too many non-CSN links populating the left rail, which I blame on the law of inertia more than anything). Former Carp Hiroki Kuroda goes for the Dodgers, and I read this note from the AP: Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino are a combined 0-for-19 against him. Still, I don't see any way the Dodgers get through Halladay. They haven't seen him since 2007.. Doc enters the game leading the league in ERA and strikeouts as he begins to separate himself from the Cy Young pack.

Lineups are good: Rollins SS, Utley 2B, Polanco 3B, Howard 1B, Werth RF, Ibanez LF, Victorino CF, Ruiz C

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Minors: Older arms tumble from top 20 prospect list

Former Reading Eagle cohort and R-Phils beat writer Mike Drago compiled his annual list of the top 20 prospects in the Phillies’ chain. Team media insiders and regional beat writers were polled.

Slugging first-baseman Jonathan Singleton of low-A Lakewood edged out right-handed teammate Jarred Cosart for top billing. It's how many of us would list them; Domonic Brown was taken out of the running for this particular poll. Singleton and Cosart shot up the charts from most preseasons polls. Right-hander Vance Worley, who was served a cup of coffee with the big club earlier this season and has pitched consistently well for Double and Triple-A, rated third, ahead of control-challenged, high-upside right-hander Trevor May. Lakewood catcher Sebastian Valle rounded out the top five. Click here to view the complete list.

To me, the moral of the story between this list and the 2009 version is that pitchers like B.J. Rosenberg, Joe Savery, Drew Carpenter, Yohan Flande and Sergio Escalona, who ranked 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th and 15th on this list a year ago, have once again demonstrated that minor league success needs to be measured against age. None of these guys have ever been highly regarded by any of the leading scouting magazines, they were old for their leagues and none of them were thought to have much upside. In fairness, Rosenberg suffered some injury setbacks this season.

Secondly, and as noted by Drago, the Cliff Lee bounty failed to crack the top 16. J.C. Ramirez rated 17th, while Phillippe Aumont and Tyson Gillies, considered top 10-caliber before the season, failed to make the list entirely.

Overall, the consensus seems to be that the system is young and deep, but lacks blue-chip chops. Read Drago’s complete take here.

Monday: Phillies arms ready to shoulder the load

The Phillies swept the playoff-poised Padres right on out of Petco on the strength of dominant starting pitching.

Good pitching beats good hitting, and apparently, overcomes bad hitting. Yesterday, Cole Hamels carved up the Padres through eight shutout innings, retiring his final 16 batters, in a 5-0 statement win to complete the sweep of the league’s best team. Cole finally received a long-overdue care package of run support to help pick off the camouflage-clad Pads (uniform tops that emulated the look of the crowd and pants the color of turf would disguise them better in a ballpark setting).

The joy in being a Phillies fan in the Era of Aces is that now we get to watch them pop the Dodgers in the mouth with a pitcher who’s even better than Hamels tonight in Cy Young hopeful (front-runner?) Roy Halladay. Then the Phils have a let-up in Kyle Kendrick, who isn’t terrible by any stretch and could easily assemble a quality start. Then they’re back to Roy Oswalt, the vastly improved Joe Blanton and finally circle back to Hamels.

That’s airtight. It’s why you should be feeling very hopeful about reaching the postseason, and very excited by what they can achieve once they get there.

Sunday chat: Cole closes up shop in San Diego

Seeking his first win in nine tries, Cole Hamels (7-10, 3.47) has the ball in his hometown this afternoon against lefty Clayton Richard (12-5, 3.55) and the Padres. First pitch is 4:10 ET.

Hamels: Hamels’ telltale 7-10 mark defines this season as well as any statistic. His annoying, unsupportive offense has bled out just 12 runs over his last eight starts, leaving the ace left-hander with three losses and five no-decisions over that stretch. The Phils can’t possibly ask for anything more from Hamels, whose 170 strikeouts ranks fifth in the league. Opposing lefties are batting just .175 against him.

Blanton: Fortunately, three hits, a pair of Shane Victorino RBIs and a run on a fielder’s choice was more than enough in the Phillies’ 3-1 win on Saturday afternoon. That allowed second-half revelation Joe Blanton to even his record to 6-6. Blanton’s 3.41 ERA in nine starts since the All-Star break has arguably been the Phillies’ best storyline over the last week if you had to pick one. Jose Contreras, Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge combined for three perfect relief innings; aside from Lidge’s debacle the other night, the bullpen has also gelled lately.

Offense: In the meantime, it’s been a whole lot of nothing for the Phillies’ offense. Collectively, they’re hitting just .199/.278/.284 over their last 10 games.

Standings: The Phillies trail Atlanta by two games in the division and lead the Wild Card by 1.5. Derek Lowe and the Braves take on Josh Johnson and the Marlins today in Atlanta. Matt Cain and the Giants host Rodrigo Lopez and the Diamondbacks at 4:10 ET.

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