NL Dogfight – September 23rd

As the end of the season approaches, one team is rising above the remaining two. The Phillies September surge hasn’t let up as they’ve won 10 or their last 11 and are 14-6 in the month of September. The Mets have cooled, dropping their third straight game, while the Brewers gained ground, by not playing.

Recap of Monday’s Action:

The Phillies continued their hot play, as the Phillies beat the Braves 6-2. In the eighth inning, with the game knotted at two, Greg Dobbs (pinch hitting for Scott Eyre), singled up the middle. Dobbs was replaced by the speedy Greg Golson. Within two pitches Golson found himself on third base after Jeff Bennett’s pick off attempt sailed into foul territory. After Jimmy Rollins grounded out to second, Chase Utley was intentionally walked to set up a double play. The next batter, Jayson Werth, hit a hard ground ball down the third base line. Golson broke on contact, and beat Martin Prado’s throw to the plate, giving the Phillies a 3-2 lead. Two batters later, Pat Burrell sent a Julian Tavarez fastball into the left field stands, giving the Phillies a 6-2 lead.

The Mets didn’t have the same success. Facing a Cubs team that was one win away from clinching home field advantage throughout the playoffs, the Cubs found offense in an unlikely place. Pitcher Jason Marquis’ grand slam in the fourth inning led the Cubs offense as they beat the Mets 9-5. Marquis finished 1 for 3 with 5 RBI’s.

The Mets had some late inning heroics. David Wright’s two-run home run in the seventh, brought the Mets within four. In the ninth, after Wright scored on a Beltran ground out, the Mets had runners on second and third, before Kerry Wood struck out Luis Castillo, ending the game.

After yesterday’s action, the Phillies lead the NL East by a two-and-a-half games over the Mets, and a three-and-half game lead over the Brewers.

Magic Numbers:

Phillies - 3 Playoffs, 4 Division
Mets - 6 Playoffs, 9 Division
Brewers - 8 Playoffs

Monday’s Preview:

Cubs @ Mets – Mets fans are beginning to panic. With the recent Mets play, they are looking more like the Mets of 2007, then the Mets that devoured National League pitching in July and August, when they clawed back into the playoff race. They need a dominant pitching performance to get their heads on straight. This is the exact reason they got Johan Santana.

Santana (14-7, 2.65), will take the mound this evening, and look to snap the Mets slide. Santana has limited experience against the Cubs (four appearances, one start, all with the Twins), but has had success against them going 1-0, 1.38 ERA. More importantly is what Santana has done to the National League over the past two-and-a-half months. He hasn’t lost a game since June 28th (6-0 in that time span), and only allowed more than three runs one time (15 starts).

Sean Marshall will take the mound for the Cubs. Marshall, used mostly as a reliever this season is 3-4 with a 3.62 ERA. He’s only faced the Mets once in his career (in 2007), and had no success allowing five earned runs (all off home runs), and seven hits in five innings.

Braves@ Phillies – The Phillies fans are getting excited as the post season is within their grasp, and the energy from Citizens Bank Park can be felt throughout the entire city. There’s no denying it, the Phillies are hot, and instead of scoreboard watching in a playoff race, they control their own destiny.

Cole Hamels will take the mound for the Fightin’s, as he looks to continue his dominance against the Braves. Hamels (14-9, 3.10), faced the Braves last Thursday, and went six innings, allowing six hits, and two runs to pick up the win. In his career, Hamels has more wins against the Braves (6), than any other team.

Jo-Jo Reyes will start for the Braves and look to put behind him a disastrous start against the Mets last week, where he allowed five runs in less than four innings. Reyes (3-11, 5.74), was considered to be a top prospect heading into this season, but at a young 23, has yet to figure out major league hitters. His last win came on June 13th.

Pirates @ Brewers – The Brewers, who had an off day yesterday, open a three-game series against lowly Pirate team, who they need to exploit, before finishing the season at home against the cubs. With the Mets recent struggles, the Brewers have been given new life, and a three game series against the Pirates is the way to start to get serious about the playoffs. The Pirates are one of the worst teams in the National League this season (only the Padres and Nationals have a worse record), and he Brewers have dominated them, going 11-1 against them this season. This is the boost the Brewers need before finishing the season at home against the Cubs.

Dave Bush will start for the Pirates. Bush is 9-10 this season with a 4.22 ERA. He hasn’t won a decision in September (0-1), but has only allowed seven runs in his last three starts (a span of 19 innings). Last time Bush faced the Pirates was on August 29th when he went six-and-a-third innings, allowing only one runs, picking up the win.

Jeff Karstens is slated to go for the Pirates. Karstens, who came over from the Yankees in a trade for Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte, started off strong for the Bucco’s, winnings his first two starts. Unfortunately he hasn’t had a win since (six consecutive losses). One of those losses came against the Brewers, when he allowed three runs over six-and-a-third, as the Brewers beat the Pirates 7-0.