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Projected Starting Pitchers

Randy Wolf & Carl Pavano

Sportsline.com game preview

 

Randy Wolf struggled in spring training for the third straight year. Now, he'll try to avoid letting it carry over into April for the third straight time.

 

Wolf will try to get his season off to a strong start when the Philadelphia Phillies resume their three-game series with the Florida Marlins at Pro Player Stadium.

 

After a 9.61 ERA during the spring in 2001, Wolf had a 6.87 ERA last March. The left-hander's struggles lingered into the start of the season each time, as he was a combined 2-5 with a 6.46 ERA during the first month of the last two seasons.

 

Wolf posted a 6.86 ERA this spring, but pitched five shutout innings in his final outing.

 

"It's tough not to think about it because it's been brought to my attention so many times," Wolf said of his slow starts. "It's something I don't want to weigh on my mind. It could become a mental thing."

 

Wolf had an excuse for his poor start last season because he had elbow tendinitis, which forced him to open the season on the disabled list. After posting a 7.09 ERA in his first five outings, he had a 2.64 ERA in his final 26 starts.

 

Compounding his problems, Wolf has also pitched poorly against the Marlins. He is 1-7 with a 5.56 ERA in nine career starts against them.

 

Torborg will turn to Carl Pavano as the Marlins try to avoid starting the season with a losing streak.

 

Wolf (11-9, 3.20 ERA). Wolf was 7-3 with a 2.10 ERA after the All-Star break last year. He was 0-3 with a 5.19 ERA in four starts against the Marlins last season.

 

Carl Pavano (6-10, 5.16 ERA). Pavano was 3-2 with a 3.79 ERA in eight starts with the Marlins after going 3-8 with the Expos. He is 2-5 with a 4.29 ERA in 11 career starts against the Phillies.

 

STREAKS AND NOTES: Phillies - RF Abreu is 9-for-25 (.360) with two homers against RHP Pavano. ... C Lieberthal is 6-for-17 with a solo homer against Pavano. ... The Phillies had eight runs and 13 hits in six innings - spanning two starts - against Pavano last year. Marlins - 2B Castillo, who started a Marlins opener for a franchise-record sixth straight time on Monday, is hitting .444 (12-for-27) against LHP Wolf. ... 3B Lowell is 8-for-25 (.320) with a homer against Wolf. ...

anyone have any idea if ESPN (1, 2, Alternative 1, Alternative 2) will carry the game today? PAX in my area when the game is on, starts showing "Paid Programming"

 

it's not on the MLB Extra Innings Schedule so I have no idea if they'll "blackout" the game on FSN.

i think the game may be an alternative tonight....

The game not in Pax it in FSN!

Is anyone else having problems with Fox Sports Net? The sound didnt the work the whole pregame for me, and now that the game is starting, the video is fine and I see the announcers, but the audio is in Spanish.

Mine's "blacked out" so I have no idea what's happening... since it's not on the MLB Extra Innings Schedule.. I'll see if it's on radio..

1-2-3 inning by Pavano.... 1k

Listen Live (WQAM)

 

For those who got the game blacked out.

Castillo walks

 

Pierre pops out

 

Pudge pops out

 

Castillo gets caught stealing

 

0-0 top 2

Luis Castillo out at second attempting to steal... 0-0

Thome singles

 

Burrell pops to CF

 

Bell GIDP (Lowell-Castillo-Lee)

 

0-0 bottom 2

Looks like the defense woke up

Pavano looking good

DLee nails a double off the wall in left center!

 

Lowell strikes out

 

Encarnacion hits a line drive, caught by Byrd.... DLee not paying attention gets thrown out at 2nd

 

inning over

lowell wiffs, marlins4lyf what is your name?

Lee is showing signs that he can hit cleanup... but doesn't know where the ball goes as he's doubled up at 2nd...

lowell wiffs, marlins4lyf what is your name?

dude, he isnt here

must eat food....

 

be back later

 

this just in, Floyd goes yard

Pavano looks good as it's another 1-2-3 inning.. Gonzalez threw low (he sucks) but DLee made a nice grab..

This just in...

 

Montreal leads Atlanta 2-0

 

Yankees lead Blue Jays 5-0

 

Pirates lead Reds 3-2

Randy Wolf walks Carl Pavano

Castillo pops out to Abreu.. 0-0

Game is moving at a nice pace.

Jimmy Rollins hits a grounder to Castillo and he's out

 

Placido Polanco hits high fly ball... could be gone... off the wall.. it's a double..

 

Bobby Abreu up to bat with Polanco at 2nd.. and Abreu check swings and the appeal.. He's out!

 

Jim Thome now up.. and he walks

 

2 on, 2 outs.. Pat Burrell up to bat now.. and he pops out..

 

Great Job by Pavano