After being shut out last night by Reds phenom Edison Volquez, the Phillies this afternoon face Homer Bailey, who a year ago at this time was regarded the way Volquez is now. Bailey was regarded among the top prospects in the game in early 2007, but spent the season bouncing between the majors and triple-A. Today will mark his big-league debut for 2008. With the Reds, he went 4-2 with a 5.76 ERA in nine starts. This year in the minors, he went 4-4 with a 4.15 ERA.
Cole Hamels takes the hill for the Phillies, coming off two of the worst starts in his own brief major league career. Hamels went just four innings with a no-decision in the Phils' 15-6 win at Houston on May 25, and took the loss after allowing eight hits and seven runs in 5 2/3 innings last Saturday against Florida. His career numbers against the Reds are quite good: 2-0, 0.86 in three starts. Hamels set his career high in strikeouts at Cincinnati on April 21, 2007, fanning 15 in a 4-1 Phillies win.