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Pirates-Phillies Preview

May 18, 2010 - 3:55 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Pittsburgh (16-21) at Philadelphia (23-13), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The return of Jimmy Rollins after five weeks on the disabled list gives the Philadelphia Phillies yet another weapon in a lineup full of them, and they were clicking on all cylinders in their opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The offense may not need to provide quite as much support Tuesday.

Roy Halladay has been nearly untouchable in his first three starts at Citizens Bank Park, and he'll look to improve to 4-0 at his new home Tuesday when the Phillies try to complete a brief two-game sweep of the Pirates.

Chase Utley missed Monday's opener against Pittsburgh with flu-like symptoms, but Philadelphia (24-13) welcomed back another All-Star middle infielder in Utley's absence.

Rollins returned for the first time since being put on the DL April 13 with a strained right calf, and he hardly looked rusty. The shortstop had two hits and an RBI, while Ryan Howard's grand slam and Jayson's Werth's three-run shot keyed a 12-2 rout of the Pirates.

When Utley returns, possibly Tuesday, manager Charlie Manuel has some lineup shuffling to do. Shane Victorino has hit .303 in Rollins' customary lead-off spot, and Rollins hit in Utley's typical No. 3 spot Monday.

"We'll see," Manuel said. "Victorino can hit 5 through 7, or 1 or 2."

The Phillies can tie a season high with their fifth straight victory while depriving Pittsburgh of its first winning road trip of any kind - it's currently 2-2 - since going 5-2 from Aug. 20-26, 2007.

The Pirates (16-22) face long odds of putting an end to that lengthy drought with Halladay (6-1, 1.59 ERA) on the hill. The former Cy Young Award winner is 3-0 with a 1.13 ERA at home, and Philadelphia has given him 25 runs of support in those outings.

He didn't get as much help Wednesday in his hometown of Colorado, and left without a decision for the first time in his Phillies career. Halladay gave up three runs over 6 1-3 innings in Philadelphia's 4-3, 10-inning loss at cold and windy Coors Field.

"Today was a grind," Halladay told the Phillies' official website after allowing the leadoff hitter to reach in five of the seven innings he started. "I was pitching out of jams. I had to work."

The right-hander hasn't had to work too hard in two career starts versus Pittsburgh, going 1-0 with a 0.60 ERA in 15 innings.

The Pirates were held to five hits or fewer for the ninth time Monday, and the lineup's lone saving grace in May even had an off night. Andrew McCutchen went 0 for 4 to lower his average this month to .396. The rest of the team is hitting .211.

That lack of production put even more pressure on Pittsburgh's rotation, which turns to Zach Duke (2-4, 5.56).

The left-hander was 2-0 with a 2.37 ERA through his first four starts, but is 0-4 with a 7.86 ERA in five outings since. Duke gave up five runs and nine hits - two homers - over five innings Wednesday in a 5-0 loss to Cincinnati.

"(He was) flat," manager John Russell told the Pirates' official website. "(He) just didn't really have his stuff. They jumped on him quick. Nothing was real sharp for him today."

Duke is 1-3 with a 4.78 ERA in four career starts versus Philadelphia, but he's held Utley and Rollins to four hits in 19 combined at-bats (.211).

Werth and Victorino, the team's two RBIs leaders, are a combined 6 for 10 against Duke with three extra-base hits.