Major League Baseball

Phillies Notes: Rotation may have different look for NLCS

Published Oct. 13, 2010 10:13 a.m. ET

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In the National League Championship Series, the Phillies' roster and rotation figure to look a little different from the way they did during the team's three-game division series sweep of Cincinnati.

With this being a best-of-seven series, manager Charlie Manuel said "there's definitely a possibility" that Joe Blanton will pitch Game 4 against the San Francisco Giants.

The Phillies prepared for that scenario Tuesday by having Blanton pitch a simulated game during a workout at Citizens Bank Park.

"I think that's something we'll discuss in our meetings," Manuel said. "I feel comfortable with Joe Blanton."

A bigger decision for Manuel and pitching coach Rich Dubee could be when to start righthander Roy Oswalt and lefthander Cole Hamels in this round. Oswalt pitched Game 2 and Hamels Game 3 in the division series, but those two could flip-flop in this series. Oswalt, the only starter to surrender a run against the Reds, also took part in Tuesday's simulated game.

Oswalt went 1-3 with a 3.33 ERA in four starts against the Giants this season, with his only win coming in an Aug. 17 start at Citizens Bank Park after he was traded to the Phillies from Houston. Oswalt's career record in 17 starts against the Giants is 6-8 with a 3.61 ERA, including a 3-6 mark with a 4.18 ERA in 10 starts at AT&T Park.

Although he struggled through five innings in his division series outing against Cincinnati, Oswalt has never lost at Citizens Bank Park, so it's possible he will get another chance to start at home in Game 2.

Hamels, meanwhile, has a 4-2 record and 4.67 ERA in eight career starts against the Giants, including a 2-1 record and 6.12 ERA in four starts at AT&T Park.

If the Phillies were to fall behind by two games to one in this best-of-seven series, it's possible that Manuel and Dubee would send ace Roy Halladay to the mound on three days' rest in Game 4.

Manuel was asked about his philosophy on using pitchers with three days' rest.

"It's definitely a mind thing," Manuel said. "If you've done it before, it's easy. If you haven't done it before and then you get your butt kicked, more than likely a guy will say, 'I never did that before.' "

Halladay and Oswalt have pitched successfully on three days' rest. Halladay is 4-2 with a 2.79 ERA in six career starts on three days' rest, with the last start coming in 2008. Oswalt is 4-1 with a 2.59 ERA in five starts on short rest, with his last one also coming in 2008. Hamels has never pitched on short rest.

Manuel, of course, hopes that he doesn't have to do that in this series.

"I know that they've done it and I've seen their numbers," Manuel said. "So far, we've never been put in that position. We never talked about it or even had to make a decision like that."

The Phillies could have considered pitching Cliff Lee on three days' rest during the World Series last year, but Manuel said he never asked the lefthander to do it.

Kendrick could return Righthander Kyle Kendrick pitched two innings in Tuesday's simulated game, and he could be part of the 25-man roster in this series after being left off the division series roster.

The NLCS roster is likely to be announced Friday.

"I hope I'm part of it, but it's out of my control," Kendrick said. "I know what's going on. We could have four starters, so they'll need a long man out of the pen."

If Kendrick is added to the roster as the 11th pitcher, either Greg Dobbs or Domonic Brown likely will be left off.

Extra innings Crystal Durbin and Erin Romero, the wives of Phillies relievers Chad Durbin and J.C. Romero, have organized a charity auction of autographed bats to raise funds and awareness for the National Audubon Society after witnessing firsthand the wildlife damage done by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The Durbins live in Baton Rouge, La., and the Romeros live on the Gulf Coast in Alabama. Marucci Bat Co. donated bats, and Crystal Durbin and Erin Romero arranged for them to be signed by 13 teams. Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Halladay, and Hamels signed individual bats. The autographed bats will be available at MAB Celebrity Services at www.mabcornerstone.com under National Audubon Society as well as on eBay under the seller name NationalAudubonSociety. The bidding opened Oct. 6 and will continue through the postseason.

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