While the front office has been mulling over potential trades, the Phillies have been doing what they do best on the field; winning. Tonight should be no different.
Off the field, the Philadelphia Phillies have been in the news plenty over the last few weeks. Signing Pedro Martinez was a worthwhile gamble, but it wasn’t the answer they were looking for to solidify their pitching staff. Rumors of Roy Halladay have been swirling for weeks, and with talks seemingly hitting a wall, the Phillies attention has now turned to last year’s Cy Young winner Cliff Lee.
On the field, the Phillies just keep winning.
Winners of four straight and 19 of their last 22, the Phillies aren’t playing like a team that needs much help. While I agree with the Phillies front office that a staff ace would add a lot more security and take the pressure off of relying on guys like Joe Blanton to stay hot, or adding a reliable arm in the bullpen in case Lidge continues to struggle isn’t a bad idea, there isn’t much doubt that the Phillies’ bats are alive and well.
One of the names being tossed around most often in the Halladay trade rumors is tonight’s starter, J.A. Happ.
Happ started the season in relief where he was doing great, but since being converted to the starting role he has been even better. Happ is 5-1 as a starter, and in 12 starts this season he has given up more than three runs only three times.
Before a rough outing in his last start, Happ had put together four straight seven inning outings in July, all surrendering three earned runs or less. In his last start in June, he pitched a complete game shutout against the Blue Jays.
Happ should do well against the Diamondbacks, but even if you or I was pitching tonight, would you really like Yusmeiro Petit’s chances against the red-hot Philly bats tonight? Petit has amassed an 0-5 record to go along with his 7.68 ERA and 1.73 WHIP this season. In the nine games he has started in this season, the Diamondbacks are 1-8.
If J.A. Happ is on, which he has been virtually all season, Philadelphia should cruise to a very easy win. If Happ’s focus isn’t there and he pitches poorly tonight, I still like the Phillies and their bats over the DBacks in the desert tonight.
The Pick: Philadelphia -154