NewsLopez's time may be short as Pedro looms
Philadelphia (54-40) vs. St. Louis (53-46), 4:05 p.m. ET
By Todd Zolecki / MLB.com
07/24/09 11:57 PM ET
PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies right-hander Pedro Martinez makes his first rehab start Sunday afternoon with Class A Clearwater.Martinez is expected to require two more rehab starts before he is able to join the Majors. That would make him eligible to pitch sometime after Aug. 9.
That means Phillies right-hander Rodrigo Lopez, who starts Saturday afternoon against the Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park, could have just two more starts. Saturday's game is on FOX, with Dick Stockton providing the play-by-play, Tim McCarver providing the color commentary and Ken Rosenthal reporting from the field.
Lopez, who had been sidelined for nearly two years recovering from Tommy John ligament replacement surgery, has surrendered just five runs in his three starts (2.60 ERA) for the Phillies. Philadelphia has won each game.
"I like decisions," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "When people are doing good, that right there helps you. There's nothing wrong with that. That's what baseball's all about, anyway."
Said Lopez: "As long as I'm doing my job and everything, I think there's going to be a spot open for me. I'm just going to try to work on that, be more consistent. Again, I can't control what can happen in the future."
Pitching matchupPHI: RHP Rodrigo Lopez (2-0, 2.60 ERA)
Lopez has done his part to show he can still pitch in the bigs. On Monday, he scattered five hits and struck out five over six innings of one-run ball. He considered himself effectively wild -- he walked three, more than in his first two outings combined -- but generally, he thrives on good command of multiple pitches. The 33-year-old right-hander, coming off a nearly two-year absence, has allowed just five runs in three starts, posting a 2.60 ERA. STL: RHP Kyle Lohse (4-6, 4.21 ERA)
After a good news-bad news return from injury, Lohse looked like himself in his second start off the disabled list. There's no reason to think he can't keep it going, though he certainly faces a tough test on Saturday. The Phillies have been one of baseball's hottest teams, and Citizens Bank Park can be very unforgiving. Lohse has pitched well against Philadelphia over his career, however, with a 3.41 ERA in six starts. Tidbits
Phillies starting pitchers had a 2.78 ERA (39 earned runs in 126 1/3 innings) in their previous 18 games entering this weekend's series against the Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park. That included 13 quality starts. ... The Phillies are 13-6 in 19 games against the NL Central this season after Friday's loss. Since the beginning of the 2007 season, the Phillies are 63-38 against the NL Central. Their winning percentage is the best in the league in that span. ... Phillies Ballgirls will be dressed in their holiday best Saturday, collecting new, unwrapped toys to benefit the Children's Crisis Treatment Center and Taller Puertorriqueno Community Center. Tickets
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On the Internet
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Gameday Audio• Gameday
• Official game notes On television
• FOX On radio
• WPHT 1210, WUBA 1480 (Español) Up next
• Sunday: Phillies (Joe Blanton, 6-4, 4.24) vs. Cardinals (Todd Wellemeyer, 7-8, 5.68), 1:35 p.m. ET
• Monday: Phillies (Jamie Moyer, 9-7, 5.65) at Diamondbacks (Jon Garland, 5-9, 4.41), 9:40 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Phillies (TBD) at Diamondbacks (Dan Haren, 10-5, 2.14), 9:40 p.m. ET
Todd Zolecki is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
