Despite two straight ugly losses, the Phillies can salvage a split in the four-game series on Thursday afternoon with Cliff Lee on the mound.
Charlie Manuel has been challenged to come up with different lineups through the first 23 games of the season. Thursday's game is no different. With center fielder Ben Revere struggling, Manuel gives Ezequiel Carrera a start.
Meanwhile, Laynce Nix and Kevin Frandsen also pick up a start to give John Mayberry and Michael Young the day off.
Here's how the Phillies line up against right-hander James McDonald and the Pirates:
1. Jimmy Rollins,
SS
2. Kevin Frandsen, 3B
3. Chase Utley,
2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Laynce Nix,
RF
6. Dom Brown, LF
7. Ezequiel Carerra, CF
8. Erik Kratz, C
9. Cliff Lee,
P
Utley is 4 for 6 with a homer and a pair of walks against McDonald. Ryan Howard is 3 for 4 with a homer while Jimmy Rollins is 3 for 9 with a solo homer.
In his career against the Pirates, Lee is 1-0 with a 3.05 ERA in three starts. He has 20 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings.
The Pirates lineup:
1. Starling Marte, LF
2. Brandon Inge, 2B
3. Andrew McCutchen, CF
4. Gaby Sanchez, 1B
5. Michael McKenry, C
6. Pedro Alvarez, 3B
7. Jose Tabata, RF
8. Clint Barmes, SS
9. James McDonald, P
Inge has three career homers off Lee and is 16 for 43 (.372) against the Phils' lefty. Inge has also whiffed 15 times against Lee.
Well Cholly emptied the bench today. A little surprise Carrera got the start in CF & Mayberry is sitting.
Posted by: MG | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 12:42 PM
If Young needs a day off, that's fine, but Frandsen cannot hit RHP so this is not a great spot for him.
Posted by: clout | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 12:47 PM
Phils at -175 and Pirates at +160. Terrible value for the Phils (sucker to bet those odds) and I don't like Pirates/McDonald enough to even wager $5 bucks on this game.
Posted by: MG | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 12:49 PM
clout: Yes. But apparently Charlie doesn't give a damn, so why not keep the LHB split?
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 12:51 PM
We all know that Mayberry can't hit RHP, but that hasn't stopped Cholly from starting him against RHP on multiple occasions. Given that fact, it seems especially odd to bench him on a day when our starting centerfielder isn't playing. Mayberry, after all, is not only a better defensive player than the wretched Ezequiel Carrera, but also a better hitter against RHP.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 12:52 PM
Why bother splitting the lefties when your entire lineup is filled with them?
Posted by: Jack | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 12:56 PM
GTown: I agree. If you're gonna use him the weak 3 hole is the place (although Charlie knows nothing about lineup optimization stats).
Posted by: clout | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 12:56 PM
And if you really want ot do it right, you bat Lee 8th and Carerra 9th.
Posted by: clout | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 12:57 PM
GTown: If Carrera must start instead of Mayberry, I would have batted Nix 3rd. That way, when the LOOGY comes in, you bring in Mayberry to hit between Utley & Howard.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 12:58 PM
finger: His name is spelled Ezequiel Carrera.
Posted by: clout | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 12:59 PM
If Carrera must start...I'd just forfeit the game.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:00 PM
I mean, if MacDonald goes 6 innings then the majority of AB will be against a RHP. Why prioritize those later AB and split them up?
The bigger issue is having Howard in the middle of the lineup at all.
Posted by: Sophist | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:02 PM
Fatalotti: While I understand that sentiment, you're missing one very happy element of today's game: the absence of Ben Revere. I intend to savor the moment.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:02 PM
I mean, it's been a long time since I read Dante's Inferno, but I'm pretty sure one of the circles of Hell was devoted entirely to baseball managers who consistently misuse platoon players, and who EVER start a player of Carrera's caliber.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:09 PM
No team has made the playoffs on last decade after being 6 games under .500 after April. Nothing like having "must win" games in April because you suck so bad to start.
Posted by: lorecore | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:09 PM
OK, I am officially sick of Starling Marte now.
Posted by: Allen Thornberg | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:09 PM
Zeque got his glove up real good there.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:13 PM
Nothing like room temperature coffee after interviewing a candidate. At least there's a Phillies game to
whine aboutwatch.Posted by: Phillibuster | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:14 PM
My favorite thing about Ezequiel Carrera is that he's not Ender Inciarte. It's not much, but it'll have to suffice.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:17 PM
Nice glove at 3rd.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:17 PM
When was the last afternoon game? Feels like this is the first 1 PM start all year.
Posted by: dlhunter | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:20 PM
I need to correct something that the poster Sophist said about our centerfielder Ben Revere.
Posted by: Ruben Amaro, Jr. Important Baseball Executive | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:20 PM
I have to wonder why, when the put the mega-overshift on Chase, he doesn't bunt it down the 3B line. He proved he can still lay down an awesome one when he has to, and I don't think anyone would complain about an SP having to use up 4-7 more pitches in the inning to strike out Howard (maybe even leaving one up for him to use as a missile defense shield, like last night).
Posted by: Phillibuster | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:21 PM
I love your blanket statements, Clout, about someone who can and can't, such as Frandsen's not being able to hit righties.
That line drive out to third base was the hardest hit safe or out since the Utley and Howard homers last night.
I'll take that out over the softie lollipops the rest of the lineup has been putting up all season long.
Posted by: mainerob | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:21 PM
"Zeque got his glove up real good there."
I've had it up to here with you people mocking my speech patterns.
Posted by: Charlie Manual | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:23 PM
Revere is here but he was Amaro's 4th or 5th choice.
Amaro tried to sign/get a few other CFs instead of Revere. He was really hot to trot to get Folwer but O'Dowd supposedly has some pretty ridiculous demands for Fowler.
I understand why Amaro didn't give up a king's ransom for Fowler given all of the questions with him and some of his limitations.
Posted by: MG | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:24 PM
Glad it's Cliff pitching today and not Doc. Seeing the heat mirage coming off the turf leads me to believe he would need to have an ice bath waiting for him in the dugout.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:24 PM
I actually wasn't trying to do that. But sure, let's go with it.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:24 PM
Despite ONE hard hit ball, mainerob, clout's assertion is 100% on the money. Frandsen has a career .653 OPS in 583 PA against RHP.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:25 PM
I'm sick of Alvarez too...
Posted by: Allen Thornberg | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:26 PM
Lot of fly balls early for Lee. This could get dicey.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:26 PM
Huh. Not a bad play there either.
Mind you, I'd still rather have Delmon Young than Carrera (and I don't want Young), but nice to see he can catch one of those "straight at ya"s with a little hop.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:26 PM
Phils are going to get really good starts from Hamels-Lee-Doc this year, it looks like. Will there be another 1-3 that performs better than them? Will they still lose all those games anyway?
Posted by: Sophist | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:27 PM
Lee is pounding the strike zone.
Posted by: awh | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:28 PM
Sophist, statistically, if they only score 2 - 3 runs in those games, what percentage would they lose? 50/50? 40/60?
Posted by: awh | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:29 PM
Sophist: Call me a dreamer, but I really think our 1-5 will be pretty darn good this year - whether it's Lannan or one of our prospects stepping up in that last spot.
Will there be a better 1-3? Maybe SF? Dodgers and Angels are in a bit of a bind there, and the Nats' are looking (in a limited sample) far more human.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:29 PM
See, that's what I remember Howard doing. Sitting on a fastball dead center and letting one slice across the far side for a strike with the first pitch.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:30 PM
Howard's gait looks a little less awkward today. Could be coincidence, but I like the leadoff double.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:31 PM
Howard's been making solid contact his last handful of ABs. I've chosen impart more positivity on that fact than it probably deserves.
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:32 PM
Does anybody get fooled with Nix feints a bunt?
Posted by: Phillibuster | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:33 PM
Been listening to the games lately, not watching. Is that really an improvement in gait, etc by Howard?
Disturbing that someone who moves like that on a good day is a starter in the National League.
Posted by: dlhunter | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:33 PM
Me no likey curve balls
Posted by: Domonic | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:34 PM
Really, Dom? A hundred ways to get the Run home, & that's what you came up with?
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:35 PM
DL: he actually didn't look bad legging out the double. No way he turns it into a triple, of course, but it wasn't like he was hobbling on the path. Was able to reach third on a pretty hard-hit ball to the 2B by Nix too.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:35 PM
Shocking that Dom couldn't make contact.
Posted by: Bill | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:35 PM
Corey Seidman: "Domonic Brown 0-3, 3 strikeouts with a runner on third and less than two outs this season."
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:35 PM
Wow, Dom Brown is getting "Howarded" - fed a steady diet of offspeed stuff.
Looks like he better learn to hit it because if this keeps up he won't see many fastballs.
Posted by: awh | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:36 PM
Shocking this team couldn't score a man on third with less than 2 outs.
Posted by: SLO Phan | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:36 PM
Will this be another leadoff double wasted?
Posted by: awh | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:36 PM
Zeque looking to pick up the team when they need it.
Or just looking in general.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:36 PM
Howard up to .282/.301/.436 on the season.
He wasn't/isn't injured. This is just what he is. He'll warm up a bit and hit something between .250/.315/.450 and .250/.340/.480 for the year.
Posted by: Sophist | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:37 PM
World's greatest lies:
-The check is in the mail.
-I'm from the government and I'm here to help you.
-I really thought Ezequiel Carrera would come up big there.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:37 PM
LA: "A this point they should walk the first batter and balk them over to third" lamenting Brown's strikeout with a Howard on 3B.
You can't "luck" into a run there??? Just absolutely terrible at bats...
Posted by: HammRadio | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:37 PM
Sophist: If we believe the groin tightness comment the other day, then I have a feeling he just does a poor job getting stretched out.
If that's the case, warmer weather should help both his hits travel farther, and his muscles loosen up, which should lead to better strides, and possibly more inside-outing of pitches.
Hey, it's a theory, anyway.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:38 PM
b_a_p: You're forgetting
-Dom Brown is really starting to show signs of improvement!
Posted by: GTown_Dave | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:39 PM
"Looks like he better learn to hit it because if this keeps up he'll be out of baseball."
Fixed that for you.
Posted by: Fatalotti | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:39 PM
GTown: The funny thing is, before that wretched AB (at least it seemed wretched on Gameday), I was actually beginning to think that Dom might be starting to come around.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:40 PM
BAP: It was pretty wretched, yeah.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:41 PM
Lead off hit to the pitcher. This should be a good inning.
Posted by: SLO Phan | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:42 PM
Buster - I'm not sure I buy the injury, but as pessimistic as I am I think we've seen the worst. He's not an .700 OPS player. Just a couple of doubles and a HR and he's up close to .740. I just wonder how much he'll BB, how much he'll strike out, and how bad his contact will be. He may go thru another 2 weeks like what we saw.
I'm not sure I'd take the over on a .770 OPS from him. The BB are gone.
Posted by: Sophist | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:42 PM
The return of Kliff Lee.
Posted by: Phillibuster | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:43 PM
its not that they can't get anyone on base, it's that these idiots can't get a guy home from third.
it was infuriating during the division run when they struck out with men on third, now it's flat out disasterous.
back to back strikeouts are absolutely inexcusable. they deserve to be destroyed by the fans and media.
this team is zero fun to follow.
I hate them.
Posted by: shoulda kept arbuckle | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:43 PM
shoulda kept arbuckle - How were you a fan for the last 25 years then?
Posted by: MG | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:44 PM
Sophist: I'm not saying the injury was the cause of his rough start, but rather a secondary symptom of the cause: his failure to stretch out properly.
When the weather gets warmer, he doesn't have to do as much to get fully stretched out. When it's cold, however, he doesn't take the necessary time, so he can't get extended enough and his giddyup (such as it is) is short some of the "giddy."
Posted by: Phillibuster | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:45 PM
"Don't forget to stretch."
Reminds me of Rollins leg injuries the last few years. I don't know enough about conditioning to say. Just sounds funny.
Posted by: Sophist | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:48 PM
MG: i didn't have any expectations in the 90s and the offense was good enough to cover things up the last ten years.
Posted by: shoulda kept arbuckle | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:51 PM
The way this team is hitting, Cliffie should be leading off, not hitting 9th! Maybe even put him in the 4 hole...
Posted by: Not Cliff Lee | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:52 PM
World's greatest lies:
-The check is in the mail.
-I'm from the government and I'm here to help you.
-I really thought Ezequiel Carrera would come up big there.
Posted by: bay_area_phan
From now on, I'm gonna read all bap's posts in the voice of Ron Swanson.
Posted by: Cyclic | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:53 PM
Coming into today
Rollins: 1% HR, 20% SO, 4% BB -- .267/.308/.419
Howard: 2% HR, 24% SO, 4% BB -- .273/.293/.416
Posted by: Sophist | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:54 PM
Rollins' OPS+/wRC+ is right at career norms, and he plays SS. Not an statement against him. Just funny.
Posted by: Sophist | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:56 PM
Cyclic: Just don't forget to giggle after he says stuff like bullet #2.
Posted by: Muuurgh | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:56 PM
whomp
Posted by: Muuurgh | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:59 PM
If Howard wasn't injured he could've jumped 15 feet in the air to snare that!
Posted by: Replacement Level Poster | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 01:59 PM
Who was the poster yesterday that claimed Frandsen is a better defensive 3rd baseman than Young? He isn't -- largely because he can't throw.
(Caveat: I'm on Gameday. Didn't see the throw)
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 02:00 PM
Find it funny how quick Frandsen gets an error but somehow Young, who should have been marked up with a few, hasn't.
Gracious scorekeepers.
Posted by: Corn | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 02:01 PM
It was me and he is a better 3B then Young. Basing it off one throw is a bit of a stretch.
Better range & glove. Throws for some reason lately sail a bit on him ( not all the time, once in a while ).
Posted by: Corn | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 02:03 PM
Remember all that runner on 3rd less than two out stuff i posted last thread?
DOM is now 0-6 this season. He's also 0-3 in advancing a runner from 2B to 3B with 0 outs.
Posted by: lorecore | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 02:03 PM
And just go look at the numbers and you will see Frandsen is a better defensive 3B then Young.
Posted by: Corn | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 02:03 PM
"Throws for some reason lately sail a bit on him ( not all the time, once in a while )."
It's not "for some reason." It's because his throwing arm isn't very good. He is a 2nd baseman.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 02:04 PM
bap: the poster actually went b00b style and said Frandsen >>> MYoung.
Posted by: lorecore | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 02:04 PM
@lore.
Curious but who has been batting behind Dom in those situations.
Posted by: Corn | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 02:04 PM
Well, maybe Frandsen should try to one-hop throws to 1B once in a while.
Posted by: awh | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 02:05 PM
Would love to see a back-to-back-to-back from Utley, Howard and Nix.
(OK, a guy can dream, can't he?)
Posted by: awh | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 02:06 PM
corn: Brown has batted 6th every game he's played. Mayberry/Revere have batted behind him 7 times, Nix 6.
Posted by: lorecore | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 02:07 PM
Corn, it's irrelevant. Lineup protection is a myth, andhow lineups are constructed doesn't matter. (Or so I've been schooled.)
Posted by: awh | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 02:07 PM
sorry, brown batted 5th twice. Mayberry and Nix each batted behind him once.
Posted by: lorecore | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 02:08 PM
Nope. Frandsen > Young. Like I said go look at their numbers. Young should already have a few errors on him this season alone.
Posted by: Corn | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 02:08 PM
Howard won't see anything to hit now, with 1B open.
Posted by: awh | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 02:08 PM
In only one game of this stretch of offensive futility have I felt like the Phils just got beat by a good pitching performance, and that was Homer Bailey.
The rest has just been bad offense. McDonald is terrible. We should be mashing him.
Posted by: Jack | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 02:09 PM
howard is 1-1 in advancing a runner from 2b to 3b. although i hope he does more than that right here.
Posted by: lorecore | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 02:09 PM
Off to lunch
Posted by: Corn | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 02:10 PM
awh: "Howard won't see anything to hit now, with 1B open."
Didn't stop him from swinging, though.
Posted by: Jack | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 02:12 PM
Swings at ball four...un-freakin'-beliveable.
Posted by: Allen Thornberg | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 02:12 PM
1-2
Posted by: lorecore | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 02:12 PM
Jack, true. Sad, but true.
Posted by: awh | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 02:13 PM
I see it linked over on the top right, but have you guys seen this??
It would be cool if any of our own BL eggheads could make this happen for Doc this year. I'd be afraid to see the output though - not sure the mechanics would be quite so consistent.
http://i.minus.com/i3SXAH4AAxtWS.gif
Posted by: Phanatic's Phriend | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 02:14 PM
At least Howard worked him for 9 pitches.
Posted by: awh | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 02:14 PM
I'll take it!
Posted by: SLO Phan | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 02:14 PM
"Howard won't see anything to hit now, with 1B open."
His BB% is under 4. Those days are probably over.
Posted by: Sophist | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 02:16 PM
A run! Alas, it does not count since it is a RATAUW -- a run attributable to an unproductive walk.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 02:16 PM