On the Hill...

Jason Bergmann's got his work cut out for him tonight, as the DC right-hander faces Philly ace Cole Hamels, the left-handed change artist, who hasn't lost a start since April 23rd, and heads into tonight's game between the visiting Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals in the nation's capital's Nationals Park, having won three of his last four starts. 

Bergmann, (1-1, 7.45 ERA) was called back up to DC from Triple-A Columbus after having been demoted early this April, and Bergmann promptly pitched 7.0 innings of 3-hit shutout baseball against the over-hyped New York Mets last week. Bergmann's first start of the season came on the road against the Phillies, and Bergmann allowed 7 hits and 5 ER's, in 5.1 IP, of an 8-7 DC loss. In his career, Bergmann's faced Philadelphia 6 times as a starter, 9 times overall, with an (0-2) record and 4.54 ERA in 35.2 innings pitched. 

Cole Hamels, (5-3, 2.89 ERA), is a 6'3'' lefty with a power change, and a 4-3 record in 10 starts against Washington. Hamels has allowed 53 hits in 65.0 innings against DC, with 18 ER's, 7 HR's and 17 walks surrendered, and slightly more than a strikeout per inning at 66 K's collected against the Nationals' batters. In his first start of the season, Hamels pitched 8.0 innings, giving up 5 hits and 1 ER in a losing effort opposite another DC righty, Tim Redding. 

Nationals' #' Against Cole Hamels...

Ronnie Belliard - 5 for 20, .250 AVG, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI. 

DY - 1 for 9, .111 AVG, 1 HR, 1 RBI. 

Ryan Zimmerman - 8 for 31, 2 HR's, 2 RBI's. 

Austin Kearns? - 6 for 22, .273 AVG, 2 2B.

Lastings Milledge - 2 for 6, .333 AVG, 1 2B.

If Nick Johnson were healthy - 3 for 11, .273 AVG, 3 2B, 1 RBI.

According to MLB.com's Bill Ladson...

MLB.com's Bill Ladson is reporting, in his article entitled, "Chico set to start Wednesday", that it will indeed be Matt Chico (who was seen warming in the pen last night), who takes over for the injured Shawn Hill on Wednesday night in the last of three with the Phillies. Matt Chico, as could be expected, is happy with the decision, telling Mr. Ladson:

"'It's good to get back out there where I want to be,' Chico said. 'Ultimately, I want to pitch, whenever I'm throwing, that's fine. ... Being in the bullpen has helped me calm down and get back to where I want to be.'"

Chico hasn't started a game since May 3rd in Pittsburgh, where the second-year lefty threw 4.1 innings and allowed 8 hits, 3 walks and 4 ER's, before being pulled from the game, and then from the starting rotation, and placed in the bullpen, where he's given up just 1 run in 6.1 IP, over which he's allowed just 1 walk. Chico's winless in '08 at (0-5) with a 6.07 ERA and 27 K's in 43 innings, but more on that tomorrow...

...Sure Nationals' Manager Manny Acta might have left Redding in a little too long, and he sure made it interesting for Saul Rivera by doing so, but Manny Acta also did a really good thing yesterday. Check out MLB.com's Bill Ladson's article entitled, "Acta gives back to community", for the details...

Game Time is 7:10 pm EST again tonight, as the Nationals look to win their third straight, and the second of three against Philly. The "Bergmann of East Brunswick, NJ" vs Cole "Power-Change" Hamels...and finally, after a long road trip, I forgot to add this yesterday, so I wanted to make sure to point out...(for no other reason than that I think it's a great idea and nice community service...)

Check the NatCast if you're heading to Nationals Park...