29-year old righty starting pitcher Joe Blanton will make his season debut for the Phillies tonight. He started three games in A+AA-ball on a rehab assignment in which he was 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. He has started 44 games in his 1.5 years in Philly in which he is 16-8 with a 4.09 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. Blanton’s return will be a nice boost to the Phillies’ starting rotation. Nelson Figueroa will be bumped back to the pen where he will work in long relief for the Phillies. Figueroa has pitched in 5 games (1 start) for the Phillies this year and he is 1-1 with 1 save, a 3.38 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP.