Cliff Lee, Phillies Head To Los Angeles to Face Dodgers, Paul Maholm

The Phillies narrowly escaped a sweep at the hands of the Rockies yesterday afternoon. Backed by the big bat of Ryan Howard (4-for-5, 3 RBI), who was a double shy of the cycle (should have been a double…), and Jimmy Rollins (3-for-4, 2 RBI) – the Phillies were able to take the finale in Colorado 10-9. As they enter tonight's game, the Phillies are 8-10 on the year. They will send Cliff Lee (2-2, 4.00 ERA) to the mound in the opener against the Dodgers (12-7). Opposing Lee and the Phillies will be lefty Paul Maholm (0-1, 4.97 ERA).

Cliff Lee pitched in such a superb way on Wednesday against the Braves that he should have been accompanied by a "W". But, he wasn't. Lee took the loss in a complete game effort against the Braves where he struck out 13 hitters and allowed a single earned run. Julio Teheran of the Braves went toe-to-toe with Lee and won the bout as he tossed a complete game shut out. Lee is in search of more run support as he makes his fifth start of the season tonight. In his lifetime against the Dodgers, Lee is 2-2 with a 1.70 ERA.

Paul Maholm has pitched in five games so far this season, but has made just two starts. In those two starts, Maholm is 0-1 with a 5.35 ERA. His last time out, against the Giants, Maholm tossed a quality start allowing a run on five hits through six frames. He walked three and struck out two en route to the no-decision. Maholm spent many years with the Pittsburgh Pirates, so the Phillies are no strangers to him. In his career against them, Maholm is 5-3 with a 4.63 ERA.

Game Notes: 

• Adrian Gonzalez is hitting .569 with 1 HR and 3 RBI in 19 at bats lifetime against Cliff Lee.
• Jimmy Rollins is hitting .417 in 17 at bats lifetime against Paul Maholm.
• Ben Revere and Cody Asche are getting the night off as Tony Gwynn Jr. and Freddy Galvis will fill in for them at CF and 3B, respectively.

Today's Lineups:

Phillies lineup:

1. Tony Gwynn Jr. CF
2. Jimmy Rollins SS
3. Chase Utley 2B
4. Carlos Ruiz C
5. Ryan Howard 1B
6. John Mayberry Jr. RF
7. Domonic Brown LF
8. Freddy Galvis 3B
9. Cliff Lee P.

Dodgers lineup:

1. Yasiel Puig RF
2. Justin Turner 2B
3. Hanley Ramirez SS
4. Adrian Gonzalez 1B
5. Matt Kemp CF
6. Scott Van Slyke LF
7. Juan Uribe 3B
8. Tim Federowicz C
9. Paul Maholm P.

First Pitch: 10:10 PM ET
Location: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California
Weather: 69° – Partly Cloudy – 0% Precip
TV: CSN

Erik Seybold is a writer for Philliedelphia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ErikSeyboldPHI.