Pitching Matchups:

Cole Hamels (2-1 3.86 ERA) vs. Kris Benson (0-1 3.00 ERA)

Nelson Figueroa (1-1 2.45 ERA) vs. Ian Kennedy (0-1 5.65 ERA)

Kyle Kendrick (0-0 7.24 ERA) vs. Rodrigo Lopez (1-0 3.50 ERA)

After taking two of three from the Braves in Atlanta, the Phillies head out west for a three-game set with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Obviously, at first glance the Phillies could not have asked for a better time to face the struggling D-backs. They will miss their ace Dan Haren and Edwin Jackson, while facing the horrendous back end of this Arizona rotation. There are some familiar names there with two former Phillies in Kris Benson and Rodrigo Lopez. Kris Benson was signed to a minor league deal two years ago by the Phils but never properly healed from his off-season surgery, leading to his release. Rodrigo Lopez made several starts for the Phillies last year and filled in admirably. Ian Kennedy is a former Yankee farmhand who came over to Arizona in the Curtis Granderson 3-way deal. Cole Hamels will look to build on his successful start last time out, with another solid performance. Nelson Figueroa will step into the rotation now that J.A Happ was placed on the disabled list. He has pitched very well out of the bullpen in his time with the Phillies and hopefully that can continue. Kyle Kendrick will take the hill in the final game of this series after throwing an 8-inning gem against the Atlanta Braves, only to have the lead squandered in the ninth by Ryan Madson. With the way the rotations match-up for this series, anything less than a series win will be pretty disappointing.

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Tags: Anna Benson, Braves, Cole Hamels, Dan Haren, Diamondbacks, edwin jackson, Ian Kennedy, J.A. Happ, Kris Benson, kyle kendrick, Nelson Figueroa, Phillies, Rodrigo Lopez, ryan madson