The Philadelphia Phillies, currently in second place in the National League East despite a pedestrian 37-33 record, come to Fenway Park tonight to take on the Sox. A combination of injuries and under-performance (sound familiar?) has hampered the Phills this year. The offense has been pretty good but largely because of one man. Jim Thome is once again murdering opposing pitchers, this year to the tune of a .320/.426/.719 line. What’s worse for the Sox, he is scorching of late, slugging .882 thus far in June. The biggest drain on the Phills’ offense this year has has come from the dreadful performance by players manning the middle of the diamond. Take a look…

C Mike Lieberthal: .249/.311/.427
SS Jimmy Rollins: .277/.332/.395
2B Placido Polanco: .244/.309/.354
2B Chase Utley: .234/.261/.449
CF Marlon Byrd: .224/.297/.304

Wow.

I think it is time for the Phills to just suck up the defensive downgrade and go with former Yankee Ricky Ledee in center field. Ledee has actually been a nice surprise this year for Phills fans, hitting .312/.385/.584 in spot duty. I mean, just hand him the reigns out there. Can’t hurt.

More disappointing than their hitting, however, has been Philadelphia’s pitching. They rank 11th in the National League in E.R.A. and 10th in WHIP. Billy Wagner has missed a lot of time and so have Vincente Padilla and Randy Wolf. Furhtermore, their three regular starters that have remained healthy have been pretty ordinary. Eric Milton does have 9 wins, but also a 4.22 E.R.A. and a 1.50 WHIP. Kevin Millwood is in the midst of his worst professional season and Brett Myers still has not made “the leap”.

But like Boston, I expect things to get better for the Phills. Jimmy Rollins is hitting .344/.396/.527 in June. Pat Burrell is looking like the player they thought they acquired. Placido Polanco is improving now that he is healthy. And I have to think Byrd’s days are numbered. All of these factors ought to mean a boost in run scoring.

On the pitching side, Randy Wolf returns this weekend and, if in form, could be the horse the Phills ride down the stretch. Billy Wagner has returned to solidify an already serviceable bullpen. I still believe the Phills will win the National League East.

All that said, the pitching matchups present a pretty good opportunity for the Sox to at least take the series and perhaps sweep. Tonight, journeyman Paul Abbott (I know, I couldn’t believe he was on their roster either) faces Pedro Martinez. Tomorrow, Bronson Arroyo, who was as sharp as all hell last Sunday in San Francisco, takes on Randy Wolf. It will be Wolf’s first start since June 2nd. He ought to show some rust. And Sunday, a game I will be attending, Curt Schilling will doubtless want to make quick work of his former team. He faces Brett Myers.

Enjoy a great weekend of baseball between two talented clubs looking to right their respective ships.

- For a Brotherly Love kind of perspective, check out this Phills blog.