Phillies Set Rotation; Roy Oswalt Gets Game 2 Start Over Cole Hamels

Filed under: Phillies, MLB Playoffs

Roy Halladay will start Game 1 of the National League Division Series for the Philadelphia Phillies, followed by Roy Oswalt in Game 2 and Cole Hamels in Game 3, manager Charlie Manuel announced Friday.

By virtue of the National League's win in the All-Star Game this July, the Phillies -- possessing the best record in the NL -- were allowed to pick between the eight- and seven-day Division Series. They did so earlier this week, picking the longer series, which will allow them to start just Halladay, Oswalt and Hamels in the first round without having any of them pitch on short rest.

Manuel's decision to go with Oswalt over Hamels runs ever so slightly against the grain of the conventional wisdom that would have used the left-handed Hamels to split up Philadelphia's two right-handed aces, but, in reality, Manuel can't lose here.

 

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