The Phillies are 10 games under .500 for the first time since June of 2002. Damn. There's not much to say besides the Phillies need a freaking miracle to head to the postseason, but if they keep playing this way they may just have to give up and become sellers. After being destroyed by the Mets last night, the Phillies will look to snap their six-game losing streak with Cliff Lee on the mound. No, really…
Cliff Lee (0-5, 4.13 ERA) is still winless through three months of baseball, thirteen starts and a bunch of letdowns from the lefthander. Lee has allowed five or more earned runs in three consecutive starts, holding a 8.64 ERA in that span. Lee also has a 5.68 ERA in his last eight starts. He has blown two three-run leads, one two-run lead and one one-run lead when given run support. In his last outing, on Friday against the Marlins, Lee was tagged for six earned runs on 10 hits through just 4 2/3 innings of work. Lee lost his fifth game of the year and remained winless. Lee has faced the Mets three times this season, losing just one decision while taking no-decisions for the other two. Most recently, on May 30, Lee allowed just three earned runs over seven hits through six innings to receive the no-decision. In his career, Lee is 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA against the Mets.
Opposing Lee and the Phils will be Chris Young (2-1, 3.30 ERA), who is making his sixth start of the season. Having not made a start until June 5 due to right shoulder surgery he had last summer, Young has certainly made it known he is healthy enough. In his last outing, on Thursday against the Dodgers, Young tossed 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball, allowing six hits while striking out six to earn the win, his second of the season. In his career, Young is 3-2 with a 3.35 ERA against the Phillies.
It's time to really worry about this team. Sure, we said it would go away and we would start winning games, but with five games to play until the All-Start break, the Phillies are 10 games under .500. Cliff Lee is still winless while he's pitching like crap. It's seriously time to wonder if Lee is pitching hurt and not telling anybody, or he's just having a crap year. Nobody pitches this badly, unless you're Joe Blanton or Kyle Kendrick.
Today's lineup @ NYM:
- J-Roll SS
- Juan Pierre LF
- Chase Utley 2B
- Chooch C
- Pence RF
- Vic CF
- Polly 3B
- JMJ 1B
- Lee P.
TV: CSN ; Radio: 1210 WPHT, 94 WIP
Follow Erik on Twitter @ErikSeyboldPHI.
