Bill Batterman is the The Phillies entered 2005 as many analysts’ favorites to win the competitive National League East. While the Braves, Marlins, Mets, and even Nationals were thought to prove challenging, the Fightin’ Phils were expected to battle for the pennant deep into September. Instead, they have gotten off to a disappointing 14-18 start and find themselves in last place in their division, six and a half games behind the first-place Braves.
Having scored only 127 runs while allowing 151, the Phillies are without top slugger Jim Thome who is on the disabled list with back problems. Their offense is last in the National League in OPS and their pitching staff has yielded the third highest OPS in the league to opposing hitters, behind only Colorado and Cincinnati. Three of the main culprits for the team’s pitching woes will take the hill in the series against Milwaukee, as the Crew catches a break by missing both Brett Myers and Jon Lieber, whom the Yankees inexplicably passed on in favor of Jaret Wright during this past off-season.
The Brewers lost two of three to the Mets over the weekend but remain solidly in second place and at .500 on the year.