Dodgers-Phillies NLCS scouting report

FIRST BASE

Dodgers: James Loney. While he doesn't have the power formally associated with his position, with just 13 homers, the remarkably consistent Loney drove in 90 runs for the second straight season. Had more walks (70) than strikeouts (68). During the regular season, the lefthanded hitter had just about the same success against LHPs (.274-4-25 in 124 at-bats) as against RHPs (.283-9-65 in 452 ABs).

Phillies: Ryan Howard. During the NLDS, the Rockies rarely used the exaggerated overshift against Howard that most teams routinely employ. That turned out to be a mistake. While he didn't hit a home run after being tied for third in the majors with 45 during the regular season, he batted .375 with three doubles. His six RBI tied the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez for most runs driven in during the first round. During the season he batted just .207 vs. LHPs compared with .320 vs. RHPs.

ADVANTAGE: Phillies

SECOND BASE:

Dodgers: Ronnie Belliard and Orlando Hudson. The switch-hitting Hudson, signed at the beginning of spring training, was a first-half All-Star with 48 RBI at the break. He drove in just 14 runs in the second half, though, and lost playing time after Belliard was acquired from the Nationals on Aug. 30. Belliard started 19 games (nine at third base), batted .351 and was the second baseman in all three NLDS games against the Cardinals.

Phillies: Chase Utley. There was some concern when Utley batted just .193 from Sept. 1 through the end of the regular season. He bounced back in the NLDS against Colorado, though, leading the team with a .429 average, hit a homer, walked four times, scored five runs and stole two bases. Hit .288 vs. LHPs, .279 vs. RHPs, a consideration against a team that has LH starters Clayton Kershaw and Randy Wolf.

ADVANTAGE: Phillies

SHORTSTOP

Dodgers: Rafael Furcal. Finished strong. From Sept. 1 to the end of the season, the switch-hitter batted .330 with eight doubles and 21 runs scored. Followed that up by going 6-for-12 (.500) in the Division Series. The Dodgers hope this demonstrates he's fully recovered from the lower-back injury that forced him to miss most of the 2008 season. Batted .296 against LHPs compared to .261 vs. RHPs during regular season.

Phillies: Jimmy Rollins. Had just two singles in his first 13 at-bats of the Division Series, but hit a key leadoff single in the ninth inning of Game 3 and went 2-for-5 with a double in Game 4. Phillies were 61-19 (.763) when he scored a run during the regular season. "Jimmy's the guy that starts our engine. He sets our offense in motion," said manager Charlie Manuel. It would be no surprise if he won his second straight Gold Glove.

ADVANTAGE: Phillies

THIRD BASE

Dodgers: Casey Blake. Probably the most underrated Dodgers player, Blake has brought stability to a position that had been a revolving door. Was the sixth different Opening Day third baseman in 6 years. In his first full year with Los Angeles, the 36-year-old righthanded hitter provided steady production with a .280-18-79 season. Batted .320 vs. LHPs and .270 vs. RHPs.

Phillies: Pedro Feliz. Did not have an impressive Division Series, batting just .214 against the Rockies. Previously had been a .294 career hitter in the first round. Is 2-for-14 (.143) lifetime in LCS play. During regular season had a career-high 154 hits and led the team by going 47-for-140 (.336) with runners in scoring position. Has occasional power from the lower part of the order but his greatest strength remains stellar defense.

ADVANTAGE: Dodgers

CATCHER

Dodgers: Russell Martin. Had career lows in batting average (.250), home runs (7) and RBI (53) but remains an iron man behind the plate. Caught 1,201 innings during the regular season, more than any catcher in baseball. Batted just .207 in September/October and .111 in the Division Series. Threw out 25 of 99 runners trying to steal, 25.3 percent.

Phillies: Carlos Ruiz. Came on strong offensively at the end of the season, batting .316 in September/October and .308 with three RBI in the Division Series. That's considered a bonus. The Phillies love the way he handles the pitching staff. Appears to be fully recovered from the injury to his left wrist that bothered him late in the year.

ADVANTAGE: Even

LEFTFIELD

Dodgers: Manny Ramirez. Never found himself after serving a 50-game suspension for violation of MLB's steroids policy. From Sept. 1 to the end of the season hit just .218 with 4 homers and 14 RBI, but the Phillies know how dangerous he can be after he batted .533-2-7 against them in the NLCS last year. "Any time he walks to home plate, he's one of those type hitters who's one swing away from being hot," said Rockies manager Jim Tracy.

Phillies: Raul Ibanez. Has had a roller-coaster season. Batted .312 with 22 homers and 59 RBI in 62 games before going on the DL with a strained left groin. Batted .237 after being activated. But finished the regular season on an upswing with seven homers in September and carried that into the postseason. He batted .308 against the Rockies and his five RBI were second only to Ryan Howard. Hit better against LHPs (.285) than RHPs (.267).

ADVANTAGE: Phillies

CENTERFIELD

Dodgers: Matt Kemp. In his second full season in the majors, the 25-year-old Kemp has blossomed into the five-tool star he was always expected to be. Became the first player in franchise history with at least 25 homers, 100 RBI and 30 stolen bases. Was third in the majors with 14 outfield assists. The righthanded hitter kills LHPs (.362-8-25 in 138 at bats) compared to RHPs (.278-18-76 in 468 at bats). Hit just .143 in NLDS.

Phillies: Shane Victorino. Twice left unprotected by the Dodgers in the Rule 5 draft, the switch-hitting Victorino has established himself as one of the league's better centerfielders. While he batted just .222 against the team that drafted and signed him in last year's NLCS, he was an impact player with a triple, a homer, two runs scored and six RBI. After hitting only .255 in August and .237 in September/October, snapped back to bat .353 in the NLDS.

ADVANTAGE: Dodgers

RIGHTFIELD

Dodgers: Andre Ethier. Arguably the team's most valuable player, the lefthanded-hitting Ethier led the majors with six walkoff hits. Four of those were home runs, tying the single-season record held by Jimmie Foxx (1940 Red Sox) and Roy Sievers (1957 Washington Senators). He has struggled against LHPs, though, batting .194 compared to a .302 average vs. RHPs. Hit .500 with two homers in the NLDS.

Phillies: Jayson Werth. Had an impressive NLDS against the Rockies, batting .357 and two of the four home runs the Phillies hit in the first round. He also tied Chase Utley for the team lead with five runs scored. While he established himself as the everyday rightfielder, he still has problems at times against RHPs (.256) while hitting .302 vs. LHPs. Hit just .190 against Los Angeles in the 2008 NLCS.

ADVANTAGE: Dodgers

STARTING PITCHING

Dodgers. LHP Clayton Kershaw, RHP Vicente Padilla, RHP Hiroki Kuroda, LHP Randy Wolf. The starters had a 3.58 ERA this season. Kershaw, still just 21 years old, has emerged as the star of the rotation. He allowed three or fewer runs in 26 of his 30 starts and held opponents to a MLB-best .200 average. Lack of run support led to an 8-8 record despite a 2.79 ERA. Padilla, picked up after being released by the Rangers, went 4-0, 3.20 after being signed by the Dodgers and was dominant (7 shutout innings, 4 hits) against the Cardinals in the NLDS. Kuroda was not activated for the NLDS after missing his final start of the regular season with a sore neck, but is now fully recovered. He's 1-0, 0.95 in three career starts against the Phillies. Wolf was signed before the season and led the team in innings pitched. Had a 2.98 ERA after the All-Star break.

Phillies: LHP Cole Hamels, TBA, LHP Cliff Lee, TBA. Coming off a so-so regular season, Hamels hoped to duplicate the success he had in the postseason a year ago when he was voted MVP of both the NLCS and World Series. It didn't happen against Colorado. He lost (5 innings, 7 hits, 4 runs) to the Rockies, then left to be with his wife, who gave birth the next day. It remains to be seen how the disruption in his routine will impact his start tonight. The Phillies have yet to announce whether RHP Joe Blanton, LHP J.A. Happ or RHP Pedro Martinez will start Game 2. Martinez hasn't pitched since Sept. 30, but manager Charlie Manuel may have tipped his hand when he said Blanton and Happ will be available out of the bullpen the first two games and that he has confidence that Martinez would be ready. Lee was dominant in the NLDS, allowing 11 hits in 16 1/3 innings and posting a 1.10 ERA. He's lined up to have an extra day of rest for a Game 3 start. The Game 4 starter would then likely be Blanton or Happ.

ADVANTAGE: Dodgers

BULLPEN

Dodgers. RHPs Jonathan Broxton, Ronald Belisario, Jeff Weaver and Chad Billingsley; LHPs George Sherrill and Hong-Chih Kuo. The relievers had a 3.12 ERA this season. Broxton is the closer and was 36-for-42 in save opportunities. He's a power pitcher who struck out 114 batters in 76 innings. Sherrill was the Orioles' closer before being acquired on July 30 and gave manager Joe Torre a reliable lefty setup man. Kuo, another lefthanded option, had a 2.19 ERA after coming off the disabled list (sore elbow) on July 27. Belisario is a rookie who had a 2.04 ERA in 69 appearances. Weaver is used primarily as a long man. Billingsley pitched his way out of the rotation after making the All-Star team by going 3-8, 5.21 after the break.

Phillies: RHPs Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson, Brett Myers, Chad Durbin, Kyle Kendrick; LHPs Scott Eyre, Antonio Bastardo. Manager Charlie Manuel surprised almost everybody by using Lidge (11 blown saves, 7.21 ERA) to nail down the final two wins of the NLDS, but will probably still mix and match during the NLCS. Madson is still the primary setup reliever, although he could be used to finish games under certain circumstances. And if Manuel needs a lefthander, he hasn't been afraid to use Eyre, who is pitching with loose fragments in his elbow.

ADVANTAGE: Dodgers