When the Phillies begin the 2011 playoffs on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park, Roy Halladay will take the mound. When the Phillies begin the 2011 playoffs on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park, Cliff Lee will take the mound.

So which of those two sentences is correct?

You'll have to read tea leaves or the minds of the Phillies coaching staff to figure it out.

But it's probably a safe guess to assume Roy Halladay will take the ball in Game 1, with Cliff Lee following in Game 2.


For the last month, it's been Halladay followed by Lee. Halladay had his most recent start, Sunday at Citi Field, cut short at 77 pitches.

With just four days away from Game 1 of the NLDS, Charlie Manuel wasn't ready to announce it. Then he said he shouldn't have to.

"I think if you’re good baseball people you should able to see how we’re setting it up," Manuel said. "I shouldn’t have to answer that."

So Halladay, right?

Halladay threw a no-hitter in Game 1 of the NLDS last season. He started Opening Day this year, with Lee following in the second game of the season.

Unofficially, Halladay is the ace of the Phillies ace-laden pitching staff. But the numbers for Halladay and Lee this season have been frighteningly close.

In 32 starts, Halladay is 19-6 with a 2.35 ERA in 233 2/3 innings. He has a 1.04 WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched), 220 strikeouts and 35 walks, and he leads all NL pitchers with a 6.29 K/BB ratio and with eight complete games. He also has one shutout.

In 32 starts, Lee is 17-8 with a 2.40 ERA in 232 2/3 innings. He has a 1.03 WHIP, 238 strikeouts, 42 walks and a 5.67 K/BB ratio. He has six complete games and a NL-best six shutouts.

In September, Halladay is 3-1 with a 1.70 ERA in five starts. In September, Lee is 2-1 with a 1.42 ERA in five starts.

Even if Lee is arguably the hotter hand right now, it's pretty close and probably not worth having him hop ahead of Halladay in the current order of the rotation.

But it is interesting that the decision hasn't been made yet.

"We don't even know who we're playing yet," pitching coach Rich Dubee said on the delay. "It’s a real tough decision. But I don’t know if it’s a tough decision as much as it’s a good decision."

With two games remaining in the season, the Phils most likely first round opponent is the Arizona Diamondbacks. That matchup would become official if the Braves and Brewers win tonight and the Cardinals and D-backs lose.

If you're curious, Halladay is 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA in one start against Arizona this season (you may recall it was the game he lost a 2-1 lead in the ninth inning). Lee, meanwhile, was 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in two starts vs. the Diamondbacks this season.