• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Marlins-Phillies Preview

May 27, 2009 - 4:35 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Florida (21-25) at Philadelphia (24-19), 7:05 p.m. EDT

Philadelphia starters seem to finally be settling down after a poor start. Brett Myers has certainly done his part to shore up the Phillies' rotation.

After getting perhaps their best effort from a starter this season, the Phillies turn to Myers as they conclude a three-game set with the Florida Marlins on Wednesday night.

Philadelphia (25-19) tied this series and remained in sole possession of first place in the NL East with a 5-3 win over Florida (21-26) on Tuesday night. The Phillies got an outstanding performance from Joe Blanton, who struck out a career-high 11 in seven scoreless innings.

Despite that effort from Blanton, who lowered his ERA from 7.11 to 6.14, Philadelphia's starters haven't performed as well as the team hoped with a 5.86 ERA for the season.

Over the last eight games, however, the rotation has gone 4-2 with a 3.96 ERA.

Myers (4-2, 4.34 ERA) has pitched well the past two weeks, going 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA in three starts. The veteran right-hander gave up three runs and did not walk a batter in eight innings to earn a win Friday night as Philadelphia beat the New York Yankees 7-3.

Myers faced the Marlins on April 24, walking a season-high six but throwing five scoreless innings after giving up three runs in the first before the Phillies rallied for a 7-3 win. He's 6-10 with a 5.53 ERA in 23 starts and six relief appearances versus Florida.

While Philadelphia's rotation is showing signs of becoming more consistent, finishing games has been a struggle for Brad Lidge.

Lidge, though, avoided blowing a third straight save Tuesday, walking a batter before recording the final two outs to escape a bases-loaded jam. It was the ninth save in 13 chances for Lidge, who converted all 48 of his opportunities last year - including playoffs - but has an 8.85 ERA this season.

"It felt really good," Lidge told the Phillies' official Web site. "For whatever reason, it felt like last year."

Lidge is 12 for 12 in save chances against the Marlins, posting a 0.39 ERA and a .177 opponents' batting average.

Phillies pitchers may get a break Wednesday with Hanley Ramirez's status uncertain. The All-Star shortstop left Tuesday's game in the third with tightness in his groin.

"I'm going to go day by day and see how I feel," he said.

Ramirez, batting .320 with eight homers and 22 RBIs, was replaced at shortstop by third baseman Emilio Bonifacio. Wes Helms entered the game at third.

Florida could use steady play from whoever is on the field Wednesday with Burke Badenhop (2-2, 5.75) set to make his first start since June 3. Badenhop, who has made 11 relief appearances this season, is getting a start with injuries and inconsistency hurting the Marlins' rotation.

The right-hander went 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA as a starter last year. He's faced the Phillies twice - both in relief - surrendering one run and two hits in 3 2-3 innings.

Badenhop will face a Phillies lineup that is batting .281 with 20 home runs while averaging 6.0 runs over its last 12 games, winning nine.

Shane Victorino remains hot for Philadelphia, going 4 for 5 on Tuesday. The center fielder is 11 for 23 (.478) over his past five games and has hit .435 (10 for 23) with nine RBIs in five games versus the Marlins this season.