VENUE: Nationals Park
Roy Oswalt will start as scheduled Friday night, but instead of taking the hill for a club 17 games under .500 he'll be wearing the uniform of the hottest team in the majors.
After approving a trade to Philadelphia on Thursday, the three-time All-Star can extend his new team's winning streak to nine when he makes his Phillies debut in the opener of a three-game set with the host Washington Nationals.
Oswalt (6-12, 3.42 ERA) had been in the Houston organization for all 14 years of his professional career, but the Astros' 42-59 record and the $21 million left on Oswalt's contract through 2011 made it time for Houston to part with its ace.
The Phillies (56-46), as they did for Cliff Lee at the 2009 trading deadline and Roy Halladay last offseason, were more than happy to swing a deal. Philadelphia agreed to send J.A. Happ and two prospects to Houston early Thursday, and when Oswalt decided to waive his no-trade clause later that afternoon, the deal was done.
"We think that we acquired one of the premier starting pitchers in baseball," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. told the Phillies' official website. "To have Roy Oswalt, Roy Halladay and additionally Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton and Kyle Kendrick, we stack ourselves up as one of the best rotations in baseball."
Oswalt, who has the seventh-best road ERA (2.61) in the majors, only received 10 total runs of support in his 12 losses for Houston.
The three-time All-Star might not have to worry about a lack of run production anymore. Philadelphia is averaging 5.8 runs and hitting .315 during its season-high winning streak, which stretched to eight with a 3-2, 11-inning win over Arizona on Thursday.
It's the Phillies' longest win streak since a 10-game run July 8-21, 2009.
"You've pretty much got an All-Star at every position," Oswalt said of his new team. "They have a real good team as far as a union. I talked to Brad Lidge (Wednesday) night about the clubhouse, and he likes it a lot up there with guys like Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino and some other great guys."
Oswalt might have to wait a day or two to see Rollins behind him at shortstop. The 2007 NL MVP has missed three straight games with a bruised foot, and is considered day to day.
Oswalt is 1-0 with a 2.14 ERA in four starts in the nation's capital, but didn't fare too well against the Nationals (44-58) on May 31 in Houston. He gave up four runs over 2 1-3 innings before being ejected for arguing with an umpire in a 14-4 loss.
Washington went just 3-7 on a 10-game road trip to start the season's second half, but took two of three against Atlanta upon returning home this week.
Both victories, including Thursday's 5-3 win, were closed out by Matt Capps. Shortly after completing his 26th save, however, Capps was dealt to Minnesota for a pair of prospects.
Craig Stammen (2-4, 5.50), who will oppose Oswalt in the series opener, will try to fare better than he did in his first two starts against the Phillies. Stammen didn't receive a decision in either outing, but gave up 11 runs while lasting 6 1-3 total innings.
Placido Polanco and Jayson Werth are a combined 7 for 8 with five doubles against the right-hander, who left his start last Friday without a decision after yielding three runs over five innings of a 7-5 loss at Milwaukee.
