Phils Battle Fish for 1st

Tonight in Florida, 7:10pm ECT, the Phils will try to make it 2-in-a-row against the league's 2nd best team, division rival Florida. The Phils currently hold a a 3 game NL East lead over the Marlins thanks to last night's win.

It will be each team's ace, 2 of baseball's best on the mound:

PHI: Halladay (5-1, 2.19 ERA, 57 S.O., 7 BB) @
FLA: Johnson (3-1, 1.68 ERA, 46 S.O., 15 BB)

Joe Blanton was barely sufficient Monday, when he got his 1st win of the season in game 1 of the 3 game series. Blanton, fresh off the DL, walked 2 and allowed 8 hits in 5 innings. He is now 1-1 with a 5.83 ERA vs. Vance Worley's 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA. He has the Phils and fans alike routing for his success-- so his trade value will go up. With his $10.5 Million salary, injury issues and best years behind him, he's looking like a tough sell.

Cole Hamels' loss to the Braves Sunday dropped him to 4-2. He entered the game with a 2.68 ERA in his previous 34 starts, one of baseball's best during that span. His contract expires this year.

Chase Utley went 5-for-7 with 2 HRs in an extended exhibition game over the weekend, sending fantasies of heroics through everyone's mind. 1-for-7 in his next outing hardly quelled them, as he ran hard and well. There's no secret that what the Phils need now is a big bat. The hope is that Ibanez will continue to get hot, Mayberry Jr. will show consistency or Utley will come back to save the day. Otherwise, trading for an outfielder is the only option. (Unless, Dominic Brown has matured a few years this month.)

RF Ross Gload went 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs Monday in game 1 of the series against the Marlins. However, as the Phils found out last year, his problem isn't hitting. That, he does exceedingly well. Gload's inability to stay healthy (chronic back problems) is what has kept him off Major League starting lineups for years.

Jimmy Rollins has continued to produce from the leadoff spot. He is hitting .313 in May with 7 BB to 3 S.O., a rarity for Rollins, who tends to walk seldom and strikeout much more than a leadoff hitter should. His discerning eye must be catching manager Charlie Manuel's, because Manuel has left him atop the order-- for now.