Phillies' rotation is falling into place

ATLANTA - For the Braves, it was the beginning of a final salute to retiring manager Bobby Cox and a chance to secure a spot in the playoffs. For the Phillies, it was all about not making any waves and putting the final pieces together, plotting the best route back to the World Series for the third straight year.

So, the last thing anybody expected before the Phils thumped Atlanta, 11-5, last night at Turner Field was Charlie Manuel blurting out that he was a "little concerned" about ace lefthander Cole Hamels.

Making the scene even more bizarre was the fact that, even as the Phillies manager was making this somewhat startling declaration, Hamels was throwing in the leftfield bullpen with no apparent problem.

Relax. Pitching coach Rich Dubee later explained that Hamels merely has a head cold.

And, with that, more of the logistical tumblers fell into place.

The Phillies already had announced that Roy Halladay will start Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Wednesday at The Bank. Manuel and Dubee confirmed the speculation that Roy Oswalt will start Game 2, also at home, and that Hamels will pitch Game 3 on the road.

The logic was uncomplicated. Oswalt is 5-0, 1.76 in six starts in Philadelphia this year. And if a decisive Game 5 should be needed in the first round, Oswalt will be in line to start that at home, too.

While the Phillies' first-round opponent still has not been identified, the strong likelihood remains that it will be Cincinnati. And Hamels is 3-0, 1.67 in three career starts at Great American Ball Park, holding Reds hitters to a .172 batting average in the process.

Dubee said he wasn't concerned about using Hamels to split up the righthanded Roys.

"There's different righthanded looks," he explained. "Halladay is who he is, Oswalt is who he is. They're different. If you split up two guys who were real alike, then you might want to do that."

Last night's loss was a setback for the Braves, who had a chance to clinch the National League wild card with a win and a San Diego loss at San Francisco.

Righthander Kyle Kendrick started for the Phillies, although it was unclear whether he was pitching for a spot on the postseason roster. With three starters who tend to last deep into games and only one occasion in the NLDS in which the Phillies are scheduled to play on back-to-back days, they theoretically could get by with as few as 10 arms in the first round.