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Nationals-Phillies Preview

Apr 15, 2010 - 4:12 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Washington (3-4) at Philadelphia (6-1), 3:05 p.m. EDT

Even without one of their top players, the Philadelphia Phillies can still put out an intimidating lineup.

This shouldn't come as much of a surprise, as long as Chase Utley and Ryan Howard are still penciled in their regular spots.

Off to their best start in 17 years, the surging Phillies look to build on their highest-scoring game of the season and sweep their second consecutive home series over the Washington Nationals on Thursday.

Philadelphia's potent offense appeared to take a hit Wednesday, when shortstop Jimmy Rollins was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a calf strain. The three-time All-Star and 2007 NL MVP, who is batting .391 with eight runs scored, was injured during warmups before Monday's 7-4 home-opening victory over the Nationals.

Manager Charlie Manuel had to do some lineup juggling Wednesday, and putting Shane Victorino in the leadoff spot helped provide more than enough offense.

The Phillies (7-1) won 14-7, the sixth time they've plated at least seven runs. The top four batters in the order - Victorino, Placido Polanco, Utley and Howard - went a combined 10 for 18 with 12 RBIs and nine runs. Victorino finished with four hits and a career-best five RBIs, and Utley hit two homers for Philadelphia, off to its best start since opening 8-1 in its 1993 pennant-winning season.

"That's a great-hitting team," Nationals manager Jim Riggleman said. "We've got to keep the ball down. When they hit the ball in the air in this ballpark, they're going to kill you."

Washington (3-5) has lost eight straight at Citizens Bank Park, and 13 of 14 there. Utley and Howard have been instrumental to that dominance.

Utley, who also homered Monday, is batting .413 with five home runs, 16 RBIs and 19 runs in the last 13 home games against the Nationals. Howard is hitting .320 with four homers and 17 RBIs in the last 14.

Howard looks to continue that success against one of his favorite pitchers.

The 2006 NL MVP is hitting .483 with two homers and three doubles lifetime against scheduled starter Scott Olsen - Howard's highest average against any pitcher he has had at least 13 at-bats against.

This will be Olsen's season debut after missing half of 2009 because of a shoulder injury. The left-hander went 2-4 with a 6.03 ERA in 11 starts before undergoing surgery in July. He faced the Phillies twice, going 1-1 with a 5.06 ERA.

Olsen made a minor league start Friday, allowing four runs and eight hits in 6 1-3 innings for Triple-A Syracuse.

Philadelphia counters with J.A. Happ (1-0, 0.00 ERA), who is hoping to go a bit deeper after struggling at times during his 2010 debut.

Happ went 10-4 with a 2.99 ERA in 23 starts as a rookie last season, but allowed six hits and two walks with five strikeouts in five innings of an 8-0 win at Houston on Friday. Although he kept the Astros off the scoreboard, he threw 103 pitches.

"I am happy with it, but it would have been nice to have been a little more economical," the left-hander said

In his only career start against Washington on May 29, Happ gave up three runs, three hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings of a 5-4 win.