Kris Medlen is hoping to build on the success he had Sunday night against St. Louis, when he makes his next start Friday night in Philadelphia against a team that’s given him fits.
Medlen is 1-2 with a 5.82 ERA in 15 career appearances against the Phillies, including four starts. That’s his highest ERA against any team he’s faced more than five times in his career.
He lost each of first two starts against them this season, giving up eight earned runs in 10 1/3 innings combined, including seven runs (six earned) in a loss July 7 during the Braves’ most recent trip to Citizens Bank Park.
Medlen made a pair of starts against the Phillies in 2010 and took a no-decision after allowing nine singles (one run) in 4 1/3 innings, and won the other despite allowing four earned runs in 6 2/3 innings. The Phillies have hit him at a .333 clip for his career. Ryan Howard, who’s now on the DL with a knee injury, is 5-for-10 with two homers off Medlen. Jimmy Rollins is 4-for-13 with three doubles, Carlos Ruiz is 6-for-9 against him and Chase Utley is 3-for-8.
“That’s just a team I’ve always had trouble with,” Medlen said. “Nothing I can really explain other than I felt like I’ve pitched the same. I’ve felt like I tried to be aggressive with them too. And they put the barrel on the ball.”
Medlen held the Cardinals to two runs in six innings of a 5-2 win on Sunday night, facing a lineup that came into Atlanta leading the National League in batting average, on-base percentage and runs scored.
He had made a mechanical adjustment before his previous start in New York that carried over into his Sunday start, but Medlen said a lot of what he’s trying to do comes down to his mental approach. He’s at his best when he’s not focusing so much on mechanics when he’s out on the mound.
“When I’ve done well this year, I’ve just said ‘Forget it,’ and I haven’t worried about it,” Medlen said. “When (Brian McCann) puts down the sign, puts down the glove, I’m just like ‘This is where I’m going with it’ - more confidence and more conviction with my pitches, rather than ‘make sure I stay balanced’ and make sure I’m doing this, like a checklist in my head in the middle of a game. You can’t play like that.”
