The southpaw immediately rewarded their confidence by looking like a Cy Young candidate in August. He hasn’t been nearly as effective this month, but he’s still been decent. Overall, he’s been the best Phillies’ starter this season, which tells you as much about how good he’s been as it does about Philly’s season. The fact is, Hamels’ control hasn’t been as sharp as last year and the bottom line numbers have been slightly weaker as a result. He’ll need to be at his absolute best Tuesday if the Phillies are going to stay alive in the playoff race.

Chase Headley simply isn’t slowing down. As great as his August was – good enough to make him the first Padre to be NL Player of the Month since Tony Gwynn in May 1997 – he’s smoking it even more this month. How about a .344 mark with six dingers, 21 RBI and a steal?

Other than a middling May (in which he still hit a season-best six homers with 19 RBI), Butler has been money all year long. His lowest OPS by month was that May at 818. That’s not too shabby!