The Phillies will send Cole Hamels to the mound tonight against the New York Mets as they look to start the season 4-0 for the first time since 1915. The game is set for 7:05 tonight at Citizens Bank Park.
The fact that the Phillies will be trotting out Cole Hamels as their fourth starter is almost unfair. The Good Phight had a really interesting piece today about how this is the game where we really see the effect of signing Cliff Lee. The Phillies fourth starter isn't just better than any other fourth starter in the NL, he's dramatically better. Hamels is worth almost two more wins above replacement than any other #4 in the NL.
He will face Chris Young for the Mets, who is coming off two injury filled seasons in which he started just 18 games. He did have some solid seasons in pitcher friendly PETCO Park, but even his numbers there are dwarfed by Hamel's performance. Young is 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA in five starts against the Fightins'.