Depending on the weather, the Phillies are set to start a 4 game series with the Mutts this weekend. With a make up game rescheduled for Sunday, the pitching rotation was bound to be affected.
The thought was that Jamie Moyer would start for the injured J.A. Happ on Saturday and Kyle Kendrick would get the spot start in one of the doubleheader games on Sunday. Well, the Phillies have made that official.
To many peoples’ surprise, Jamie Moyer has been excellent out of the bullpen and in his spot starts. It was seen as a demotion, but Moyer has handled it well, save for the first few days. In his last four appearances, Moyer is 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA in just over 19 innings pitched. The Phillies are 2-2 in those games, but Jamie has put them in a position to win every time he’s gone out there. With Happ being hurt, Moyer makes his second straight start in place of Happ, and has deserved it.
Kyle Kendrick has struggled a bit after his early success. He’s only pitched in 4 games with the Phillies this season and hasn’t been very effective, with an 0-1 record and a 5.06 ERA. He has been added to the roster as a September call-up and gets the start in the early game on Sunday, followed by Pedro Martinez in the nightcap. Kendrick has had some success with the Phillies, so hopefully he can recapture that for this weekend. With another doubleheader on the 22nd, the Phillies are going to need another spot start. If Kendrick pitches well, he could get that call.
Normally, a four game set against the Mets in September has division implications, and this one still does. The Phillies’ lead over the Florida Marlins is down to five games. With the Mets fielding a AAA team for the majority of the season, this is a good chance for the Phillies to regain a few games and get back on track.
The Phillies have been stumbling through the early part of September and a good showing against the Mets could do a lot to get them back on track for the last few weeks.
