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Harden, Blanton go head-to-head at Wrigley

Aug 29, 2008 - 10:39 AM PHILADELPHIA (73-61) at CHI CUBS (84-50), 2:20pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs' Rich Harden and the Philadelphia Phillies' Joe Blanton were brought in at midseason to augment their teams' October hopes.

So far, the two former Oakland Athletics have managed to get the job done. The two will face off on Friday as the Phillies and Cubs grapple for playoff positioning.

Harden (4-1, 1.47 ERA), whose 21 starts this season are his most since 2004 after battling injury problems during the last four years, has been dominant since being acquired in early July. In eight starts with the Cubs, he has given up eight earned runs to solidify an already solid rotation. And he hasn't benefited merely from luck or good run support - hitters haven't been able to touch him.

The 6-1, 190-pound fireballer has struck out 70 in just 49 innings since joining the National League, registering 10 strikeouts or more in five of his eight starts. While All-Star Carlos Zambrano has struggled since the All-Star break, Harden has been at his best.

He has held his opponents to two hits in each of his last three starts. On August 19, he tossed seven brilliant innings in a 5-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds, striking out 10 and walking none. Five days later against the Washington Nationals, he struck out 11, gave up one run and again didn't register a walk as the Cubs prevailed, 6-1.

The Cubs are 31-14 since Harden's arrival and, riding a current six-game winning streak, have the best record in baseball.

The Phillies, on the other hand, are still fighting to keep their heads above water in the postseason scramble. They fell to the Cubs on Thursday, blowing a three-run lead. The Phillie bullpen wasted a strong effort from ace Cole Hamels, as Aramis Ramirez' eighth-inning grand slam lifted the Cubs to a 6-4 triumph.

Philadelphia's notable July acquisition, Blanton (1-0, 4.03), hasn't been as dominant as his former Oakland teammate, but the Phillies have won six of his eight starts.

After struggling in consecutive outings, Blanton rebounded in his last start on August 24. He tossed six strong innings, holding the Los Angeles Dodgers to six hits and one run while striking out four and walking three in a 5-2 victory.