Squeeze Play: Blue Jays @ Phillies

National League
After starting the season at a dismal 4-11, the Philadelphia Phillies (9-11) are on a small roll as of late - winning their last six games.

Cole Hamels will get the ball at 3:05pm ET this afternoon against Shawn Hill and the struggling Washington Nationals (6-15), who will try to avoid the sweep.

With opening day starter Brett Myers moved to the bullpen, Hamels is considered the team's ace as he looks for his third straight victory. He is 2-1 with a 3.60 ERA in four career starts against the Nats.

Hill has allowed two earned runs in each of his four starts and is 1-1 with a 7.45 ERA in two starts against Philadelphia.

Wednesday, Chase Utley went 5-for-5 with three RBIs and Jimmy Rollins went 1-for-4 with his eighth home run for the Phillies. Utley, who has raised his average to .296, is 11-for-20 with 10 RBIs and nine runs scored over the last six games. Aaron Rowand, who is hitting a team-leading .365, will take a 13-game hitting streak into today's contest.

American League
In a move some see as total desperation, the last place New York Yankees (8-11) will put highly-touted prospect Philip Hughe on the mound tonight to face right-hander A.J. Burnett and the Toronto Blue Jays (10-10) at 7:05pm ET. The Yanks hobbled home yesterday after consecutive sweeps brought them to the cellar.

Hughes' big league debut has been on the lips of New Yorkers for most of the week, with the hopes that he can fill the shoes of Mike Mussina and Carl Pavano, since rookie Chase Wright got roughed up in a big way (a history-making way) in his last start against the Boston Red Sox.

All-Star third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who saw his 23-game hitting streak demolished Tuesday, will try to start a new one and continue his impressive start. A-Rod is a career 3-for-8 with two homers and six RBIs against Burnett, who is coming off a quality start.

A.J. went 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA in three starts against the Yankees last season, losing the final two.

[MLB]