Tough Task
Philadelphia, PA – The All-Star break certainly didn’t slow down the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies.
They’ll attempt to win a ninth straight game for the first time in more than three years Monday night when they open a three-game home series against the surging Chicago Cubs.
The Phillies (51-38) entered the All-Star break with five straight wins to conclude a 9-1 homestand, during which they outscored opponents 66-27 while batting .302 with 15 homers. They returned from the layoff to take three games at division rival Florida in a rain-shortened set, capped by Sunday’s 5-0 victory.
Oddsmakers from online sportsbook SBG Global have made the Phillies -110 moneyline favorites for Monday’s game against the Cubs. Current MLB Public Betting Information shows that 54% of more than 185 bets for this game have been placed on the Phillies -110.
Philadelphia’s eight-game winning streak is its longest since a nine-game run April 30-May 9, 2006. That streak was also the last time the club won six in a row at Citizens Bank Park.
A revitalized Jimmy Rollins, who collected three hits and came a homer shy of the cycle Sunday, has been a major reason for the recent surge. The shortstop is hitting .397 (23 for 58) with eight doubles, a homer, eight RBIs, five stolen bases and 10 walks over his last 14 games.
That stretch has raised the 2007 NL MVP’s batting average from .205 to .236, and has come after he went 0 for 27 in his previous seven contests.
"When he gets on base, he makes things happen and it’s definitely a different offense," Phillies left fielder Raul Ibanez said. "He’s such an electric player."
The Phillies will give the ball to Rodrigo Lopez (1-0, 3.18 ERA), who is hoping a long layoff will help him put a shoulder injury behind him.
The right-hander had his last outing on July 8 cut short after five innings due to inflammation in his throwing shoulder, and he didn’t factor in the decision of a 3-2 win over Cincinnati. He was effective despite the injury, allowing two runs and five hits with four strikeouts.
That performance came five days after he yielded two runs and six hits in 6 1-3 innings of a 7-2 win over New York, earning his first major league win in nearly two years just hours after being recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Lopez hasn’t faced the Cubs since getting tagged for eight runs and nine hits in 4 2-3 innings of an 8-5 loss with Colorado on June 26, 2007.
The Phillies won four of seven meetings with Chicago last season. They took two of three at Philadelphia from April 11-13, 2008, and haven’t dropped a home series against the Cubs since losing two of three April 6-8, 2001.
The Cubs (47-43) are looking to match their season-high five game winning streak – set May 10-16 – after completing a four-game sweep of major league-worst Washington with an 11-3 victory Sunday.
"We’ll go into Philly with some momentum, playing better on the road," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said after watching his team collect a season high-tying 16 hits Sunday. "They’re hot as heck, so we’ll see."
Ted Lilly (9-6, 3.18), the team leader in wins, strikeouts (101) and innings (119), is scheduled to take the mound after left knee inflammation pushed back his scheduled start from two days.
"I was feeling OK," Lilly told the Cubs’ official Web site. "Hopefully with the rest, it’ll give me a chance to feel better."
The left-hander, the Cubs’ lone All-Star representative, has won his last two starts while allowing three runs and 13 hits with 13 strikeouts in 14 1-3 innings. He had been 0-2 with a 4.39 ERA in his four prior outings.
Lilly’s last trip to the mound resulted in his 100th victory. He allowed one run and four hits in eight innings of a 5-2 win over St. Louis on July 11.
Lilly has compiled a 6.75 ERA while losing his last three starts against the Phillies, two of them last year.
Posted: 7/20/09 6:00AM ET