Offense lifts up Blanton: Phillies starting pitcher Joe Blanton was chased from the game in the fifth inning on Thursday against the Cardinals, the second game in a row that he has been unable to get out of that inning. Blanton was tagged for seven earned runs in the outing, allowing 10 hits and one walk in 4 1/3 innings, while giving up a pair of home runs, both of which came in that fifth inning. Fortunately for him, the Phillies’ offense was hitting the Cardinals’ pitchers just as hard on Thursday, getting him off the hook for the loss in a 10-9 win. (Updated 05/25/2012)
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 5/25/12).
Fantasy Analysis
Two starts ago, Blanton’s ERA stood at 2.96, making the Phillies look smart for their decision to put him back in the rotation and not go out to get help in the offseason. After getting shelled in consecutive starts, his ERA stands at 4.55 for the season, and the team’s reported pursuit of Roy Oswalt might start to get a little more intense. Blanton is set to face the Mets in his next start, on Tuesday during Week 9 (May 28-June 3), the second time he has taken on the divisional rival this season. The first time he saw them, he gave up four runs in 6 2/3 innings, so he should be considered just an NL-only Fantasy option. (Updated 05/25/2012).
05/25/2012 02:42 The Lineup: Dan Haren spins a gem, Braves laying eggs
Dan Haren struck out a career-high 14 batters and didn't walk a batter in his shutout victory over the Mariners. The Braves hit just .150 in a four-game sweep at the hands of the Reds.
05/25/2012 00:08 Phillies have season-high 18 hits in win
Shane Victorino and Freddy Galvis each drove in three runs, including Galvis' go-ahead single in the sixth inning, and the Philadelphia Philles beat the St. Louis Cardinals 10-9 on Thursday.
05/23/2012 23:22 Hamels (7-1) stops Nats; Phils end skid
Cole Hamels pitched eight scoreless innings, finishing up by retiring Bryce Harper on a grounder as the Philadelphia Phillies snapped a season-long four-game losing streak Wednesday night with a 3-1 victory against the Washington Nationals.
05/19/2012 22:50 Hot bats lead Red Sox over Phillies
David Ortiz homered, singled and drove in two runs to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 7-5 win over Philadelphia, snapping the Phillies' six-game winning streak Saturday night.
05/18/2012 22:49 Phillies could get Utley and Howard back in June
The Phillies continue to say there's no timetable on Ryan Howard and Chase Utley joining their lineup, but there's a growing feeling that both key Phillies could return sometime in June. Howard's return is considered more certain, and the thought is that in any case he would be the quicker of the two to come back.
Joe Blanton should be over his elbow issue, which plagued much of his 2011 season, and back in the Philadelphia rotation entering 2012. The Phillies lost Roy Oswalt and will likely have Blanton back in the No. 5 spot behind Vance Worley. The 31-year-old Blanton went just 1-2 with a 5.01 ERA last year in 11 appearances and eight starts. He will look to round back to his 2008-09 form when he went 21-14 over two seasons with an ERA in the mid-4.00s. Blanton has been injury prone, however, and hasn't topped 200 innings in a season since 2007 with Oakland. How long he'll be able to hold up will be a big storyline for Blanton in 2012. Fantasy owners should consider him no more than an NL-only Fantasy option to open the season. (Updated 2/7/12)
Actual 
AccuScore Projections) Note: Points are rounded down.
= probable start