LANDSHARK STADIUM

GAME 1 THURSDAY 7/16 AT 7:10PM

PHILLIES: The Phllies have tabbed Moyer for the first start of the second half, in part to give Cole Hamels an extra day of rest and in part because Moyer is 12-2 with a 3.06 ERA in 14 career starts against the Marlins. The 46-year-old lefty is coming off a rough outing against Cincinnati, though, when he allowed two home runs and six runs in five innings. Philadelphia managed to put a four-spot on the board in the bottom of the fifth, so he still recorded the win. But it was a clear setback for Moyer, who had been pitching better lately after early-season struggles.

MARLINS: Volstad will start the Marlins post-All-Star break schedule following up on his best Major League start. Wednesday against the San Francisco Giants, he tossed his first career shutout, allowing just five hits and whiffing six. Consistency remains the key for the second-year right-hander, as he lasted just three innings in his July 3 start. In two appearances opposing the Phillies this season, Volstad is 1-0, having allowed five earned runs in 13 2/3 innings.

GAME 2 FRIDAY 7/17 AT 7:10PM

PHILLIES: Concerned about the toll on his young left arm, the Phillies decided to give Hamels an extra day of rest out of the All-Star break. Hamels threw 227 1/3 innings last year and 183 1/3 in 2007 versus 132 1/3 in ‘06. "His workload has been increased tremendously," pitching coach Rich Dubee said. "So we still got to get Cole in the right mindset." Hamels has been inconsistent this year. His seasons of ups and downs reached another trough on Saturday, when he allowed three home runs to the weak-hitting Pirates. He only received a no-decision because the Phillies rallied for five runs in the ninth.

MARLINS: Following a rough start to the year, the Marlins’ Opening Day starter was optioned to Triple-A to try to figure some things out, and it seems like he did. Since returning from his Minors stint, the 26-year-old is 4-2 with a 2.68 ERA in seven starts. In his last outing, though, Nolasco gave up seven runs in six innings against the Diamondbacks. He’s 4-3 with a 4.25 ERA in his career against the division-rival Phillies.

GAME 3 SATURDAY 7/18 AT 7:10PM

PHILLIES: Manager Charlie Manuel called Blanton a "bulldog" after the right-hander’s last outing, and for good reason. Blanton has a team-high 10 quality starts this season, including seven in his past nine outings. Over that span, he is 4-1 with a 2.44 ERA. And he has been especially dominant lately. On July 5, he outdueled Johan Santana with 7 1/3 scoreless innings, and on Friday he allowed just four hits and one run over 7 1/3 innings. It was the first time he threw more than seven innings in consecutive outings since April 2008.

MARLINS: An All-Star for the first time, Johnson represented the Marlins for the NL but he didn’t pitch. Now, he makes his first start of the second half. After coming back from Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery last year, Johnson started to show the baseball world he has a dominant arm. And the beginning of this year — when the 25-year-old turned in 16 of 19 quality starts, posted an ERA under 3.00 each month of the season and made his first All-Star team — has demonstrated just how bright his future can be. In his last start on Sunday, he gave up one run in 6 2/3 innings against the D-backs. For his career against Philadelphia, he’s 3-1 with a 3.66 ERA.

GAME 4 SUNDAY 7/19 AT 1:10PM

PHILLIES: Happ has become the Phillies’ best, and most reliable, starter. He still has not lost since his Major League debut in 2007. He has tossed at least seven innings in four consecutive starts, going 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA over that span. The latest gem came in Philadelphia’s final game before the All-Star break; Happ allowed the Pirates just one run on four hits over seven innings. He has never started against the Marlins, although over three relief outings against them, he allowed eight earned runs in 7 1/3 innings.

MARLINS: From trying to figure out a new delivery, to losing the battle to be the No. 4 starter in the rotation, to being used out of the bullpen to start the season, to suffering a setback by landing on the disabled list, it was an adventurous start to the season for Miller. But the first half ended on somewhat of a high note. Since returning from a stay on the disabled list — caused by an oblique strain — the left-hander has gone 3-3 with a 4.04 ERA in 11 starts, and he’s only given up more than three earned runs in two of those outings. But against the Diamondbacks, in his last start before the All-Star Break, he lasted just 2 2/3 innings and gave up six runs (two earned) in a no-decision. He’s 0-2 with a 4.05 ERA in his career against Philadelphia.

MY TAKE

I guessed the last two series pretty good, but with this one I have no idea what’s going to happen. I think they have been playing well enough for me to confidentally say they will take three out of four but for some reason I just think we will split the series. This series will ride 100% on what the starters can do. Moyer has typically had success against the Marlins young lineup but he has been less than impressive lately, along with Cole Hamels. I do expect good starts from Blanton and Happ though. Go Phils.

Scouting Reports l MLB.com

• maxL on Phillies future first baseman… Chase Utley?
• Tug Haines on Phillies future first baseman… Chase Utley?
• Phylan on Phillies future first baseman… Chase Utley?
• John on Phillies future first baseman… Chase Utley?
• Brian's BoCOCK '10 inch on Phillies future first baseman… Chase Utley?