Their backs are up against the wall. It is not a familiar position for the Phillies as they trail their best of seven series with the San Francisco Giants 2-1. Coming off of an abysmal offensive performance in Game 3 in which the team was only able to muster 3 hits, Philadelphia will look to rebound on Wednesday night and even the National League Championship Series at 2 games apiece.
Joe Blanton will take the mound for Philadelphia making his first start since September 29th. Blanton had an up and down 2010 season finishing 9-6 with a 4.82 ERA in 29 starts. However he pitched much better after the All Star break going 6-1 with a 3.33 ERA from July 16th through the end of the regular season.
Charlie Manuel announced that Blanton would make his scheduled Game 4 start even after the Phillies fell behind in the series. There were questions as to whether Manuel and pitching coach Rich Dubee would change course and start likely 2010 NL Cy Young award winner Roy Halladay on short rest. In his career Halladay has made 7 starts on short rest and has compiled a 4-3 record with a 3.63 ERA. Even Halladay admitted he informed Manuel that he was prepared to pitch if needed.
But Blanton has pitched well in his postseason appearances. The Phillies de facto Game 4 starter has made 8 appearances over the past two postseason going 2-0 with a 3.89 ERA. In 7 career starts against San Francisco Blanton is 2-3 with a 4.73 ERA. He will look to become the first pitcher since Red Ruffing in 1939 to win a postseason game after having 16 days or more of rest.
“We think this is the way to go,” said pitching coach Rich Dubee. “If Halladay were to pitch [Game 4], then either [Roy] Oswalt and [Cole] Hamels would have to go on short rest or Joe Blanton would have to pitch somewhere. So, why not now?”
“Joe’s good enough to pitch,” added Dubee. “Don’t slight this guy. And the downside [of skipping Blanton] is that Halladay is coming up on his career high for innings pitched and Cole’s never [pitched on three days’ rest] before. There’s your downside. And any time you move guys up, you’re taking them out of a routine that’s pretty solid.”
“I don’t see no use in discussing it,” Manuel said. “The way I look at it, Joe’s going to have to pitch eventually if we’re going to win four games. That’s how I see it.”
Young left hander Madison Bumgarner will make his second career postseason start for the Giants. In Game 4 of the NLDS Bumgarner allowed 2 runs on 6 hits and 1 walk while striking out 5 over 6 innings of work against the Braves. For the season Bumgarner went 7-6 with a 3.00 ERA. In 111 innings he allowed 9.6 hits per 9 innings and walked 2.1 while striking out 7 per 9. Bumgarner features a low to mid 90s fastball with a good breaking ball and changeup. The young lefty is normally the type of pitcher the Phillies struggle against when they haven’t seen a guy before.
Regardless of the pitching matchup the Phillies offense is going to have to come alive in order to even up the series. Batting just .203 for the postseason including a paltry .194 average in the NLCS, Philadelphia needs to break out of their hitting slump. It will be interesting to see if Manuel sticks with Raul Ibanez in LF or starts reserve outfielder Ben Francisco against the Giants lefty. Ibanez is 0 for 11 with 5 strikeouts during the NLCS and has looked overmatched at the plate. One way or another the Phillies have to show some life at the plate if they want their season to continue.
The Phillies have been one of the most resilient teams in baseball over the past several seasons. Do they have it in them to bounce back again? We’ll find out beginning with Game 4 on Wednesday night.
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