Game 120: Phillies at Dodgers (3/4)

Philadelphia Phillies: 64-55
Los Angeles Dodgers: 60-59

Joe Blanton (1-0 3.27 ERA, 1-0 2.25 ERA)
Brad Penny (6-9 5.66 ERA, 8-4 3.33 ERA)

Projected lineups

Victorino CF 1/7, .143/.250/.429
Utley 2B 4/15, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .267/.353/.467
Rollins SS 9/45, 3 RBI, .200/.265/.289
Howard 1B 2/10, .200/.333/.200
Burrell LF 10/41, 3 HR, 9 RBI, .2444/.279/.488
Jenkins RF 5/17, 3 RBI, .294/.333/.471
Dobbs 3B 0/3
Coste C N/A
Blanton P

Kemp CF 1/3, .333/.500/.333
Ethier RF 2/3, .667/.667/.667
Kent 2B N/A
Ramirez LF 13/21, 6 RBI, .619/.625/.667
Loney 1B N/A
Martin C N/A
Garciaparra SS 2/3, 1 HR, 1 RBI, .667/.750/1.667
Blake 3B 1/16, .067/.167/.067
Penny P

I don't know what's going to fix this offense, if anything. Your top five is set, and I'm not too worried about them. All of those guys have gone in and out of hot and cold spells, but that's baseball. Every team is going to deal with that. I suspect the main cause isn't those guys going into slumps at the same time, but the final four in the batting order. Jenkins has been a huge disappointment, and production from catcher has been inconsistent at best.

Tonight will probably be another low scoring affair. Joe Blanton has been on a roll lately, and the Phillies hope that'll continue. Although Brad Penny is struggling this season, he has always had success against the Phillies. He has great stuff, and a lot of players in this lineup seem to get overpowered by it.