Chase Utley’s return, young-gun pitchers highlight week for Phillies

It’s a big week for the Phillies.

No, they aren’t jockeying for position in the NL’s tightly packed Wild Card race — they’re 6.5 games back and behind five teams in the sprint for a final playoff spot.

And no, it’s not quite September, when the squad calls up some of its younger unproven prospects to show what they’ve got when rosters expand to 40 men.

But the Phillies proud recent past and not too distant future will collide in a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park when Chase Utley makes his first trip to South Philly since being traded to the Dodgers a few seasons ago. He and the Wild Card leading Dodgers willstepto the plate opposite three of the Phillies most promising pitching prospects.

On Tuesday night, a 7:05 pm start Utley will walk to the batters box (likely to a huge ovation) with Vince Velasquez, the Phillies’ fireballinghurler on the mound.He’ll be opposed by the Dodgers’ (65-54)Kenta Maeda who leads Los Angeles in innings pitched.

Wednesday is the second of three night starts, and Jake Thompson, one of the most highly-touted Phils’ starters against veteran Scott Kasmir.

And in the Thursday Finale Jared Eickhoff— another young gun faces LA’s veteran Bud Norris.

Following the three-game set the Cardinals come to town for a trio of games over the weekend.