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Phillies-Diamondbacks Preview

Jul 27, 2009 - 3:13 AM By JUSTIN EINHORN STATS Senior Editor

Philadelphia (55-40) at Arizona (42-56), 9:40 p.m. EDT

The Philadelphia Phillies are heading on a West Coast trip wondering if they'll return with a different look to their pitching staff.

There won't be any major changes to their lineup.

As the Roy Halladay rumors continue to swirl, the Phillies hope their offense stays red hot on the road Monday night when they begin a three-game set with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Friday's trade deadline will pass during this seven-game road trip, which also includes a visit to San Francisco, so the Phillies (56-40) will know before it ends if Halladay is joining the rotation. Many reports have Philadelphia being the most likely destination for the former Cy Young Award winner if Toronto deals him, though the asking price may be too high for the Phillies.

"I think you're always looking for a horse," manager Charlie Manuel said. "You're always looking to get better. You always want to try and improve your team."

Starter J.A. Happ is among the Phillies rumored to be part of a potential Halladay deal.

"I'm trying not to worry about it," Happ told the Phillies' official Web site. "But, (I'm a) single guy - live by myself. I have a lot of time to think about stuff."

Even if Halladay doesn't come on board, Philadelphia could be headed for a third straight NL East title because of its potent lineup. The reigning World Series champions, leading the NL with 138 homers, are batting .297 over the last 17 games while averaging 7.1 runs.

Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Raul Ibanez hit two-run homers Sunday in a 9-2 win over St. Louis. A day earlier, Rollins' grand slam highlighted a 14-6 win over the NL Central leaders.

"You kind of feed off of what everyone else is doing," Ibanez said. "It's definitely a lot of fun to be a part of."

Ibanez has four homers and 13 RBIs in 10 games since the All-Star break, and Howard is batting .381 with four homers and 12 RBIs in the last 12. Rollins has hit .344 (31 for 90) following a career-worst 0-for-28 drought and fellow table setter Shane Victorino has five straight multihit games.

Philadelphia has won 15 of 17 and is a major league-best 17-4 in July, one victory shy of its most in the month since 1977.

The Diamondbacks (43-56) also have been hot at the plate, hitting .305 in the last seven games while scoring 45 runs.

Arizona beat Pittsburgh 9-0 on Sunday to win three of four in that series, with Stephen Drew contributing two hits in each game while Justin Upton went 7 for 15 with two homers and six RBIs. Mark Reynolds tied Ibanez for second in the majors with his 26th homer Sunday and is batting .447 in 10 games since the All-Star break, a stretch during which Miguel Montero has hit .444 with four homers and 12 RBIs.

"We are playing well right now, scoring runs and making it easy on our pitchers," Reynolds said.

Jon Garland (5-9, 4.41 ERA) hopes that trend continues after getting three runs or less of support in 11 of 12 starts. He is 1-7 in that span after not getting a decision Wednesday when he went seven innings in a 4-3 loss at Colorado.

His teammates responded with at least 10 hits in each of the four games against Pittsburgh.

Arizona pitchers did not allow a run in the final 19 innings, but the Phillies haven't been shut out since May.

Garland is 0-1 with a 9.90 ERA in two starts against the Phillies but hasn't faced them since 2004. Ibanez has hit .356 (21 for 59) against him.

Philadelphia counters with Jamie Moyer (9-7, 5.65), who looks to avoid losing back-to-back starts for the first time since May.

He had won five straight before allowing five runs and eight hits in five innings of a 10-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday.

The 46-year-old left-hander is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in three starts in Arizona.