http://0rz.tw/pAj1D Giants visit Phillies in NLCS rematch By Cash Kruth / MLB.com | 7/24/2011 7:20 PM ET For the first time since the Giants defeated the Phillies in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series en route to their World Series title, the two teams meet Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park. And while Philadelphia fans likely will welcome the Giants with boos and both teams will play Tuesday's series opener with memories of last October swirling through their minds, for San Francisco, this series is just the latest in a string against tough opponents. Fresh off a three-game series against the NL Central-leading Brewers, the Giants are amidst a 19-game stretch against teams in the playoff hunt. That includes two series against the Phillies, as well as one each against the Reds, D-backs and Pirates. "We're going to be saying that from this point on. We're going to be playing some good teams," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "When we're getting back to our division, we'll be saying the same thing. Sure, there's going to be some added interest in this series, but there's a lot of baseball left. We've got to play our best ball with the team they have [in Philadelphia] -- winning their division, the best record. When you go in there, you better be on top of your game." The Giants are coming into a tough environment for opposing teams. The Phillies entered Monday's series finale against the Padres 37-15 at Citizens Bank Park this season, including nine straight series wins at home. Trying to keep that dominance intact Tuesday is Philadelphia's Vance Worley, who has been filthy as of late. The 23-year-old right-hander is 4-0 with a 0.94 ERA and .163 average against in his last six starts. Worley will be opposed by Giants right-hander Tim Lincecum, who will be starting against the Phillies for the first time since losing Game 5 of the NLCS. Lincecum went 1-1 against the Phillies last October and is 2-1 with a 3.17 ERA in seven career regular-season starts against them. Including the postseason, no Philadelphia player with more than five at-bats is hitting higher than .286 against Lincecum. Giants: White House visit Before Tuesday's series opener, the Giants were scheduled to visit the White House on Monday and meet President Barack Obama. The Giants were to be recognized for their 2010 World Series championship, the first for the Giants organization since moving west from New York in 1958. Obama also was to recognize the Giants for their work off the field. ‧ Left-hander Madison Bumgarner has issued two walks or fewer in his last 19 starts. The last Giants pitcher to accomplish that in 19 or more consecutive starts was Juan Marichal, who did so for 21 straight from July 17, 1970, to April 20, 1971. Phillies: Oswalt ready for rehab Starter Roy Oswalt threw a 40-pitch bullpen session prior to Sunday's win and said he feels ready to start a rehab assignment. "I feel good," Oswalt said. Oswalt -- on the disabled list since June 24 with lower back inflammation -- will do so Wednesday for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Oswalt said he hopes he will need only one rehab outing before returning. ‧ The Phillies enter Monday's game against the Padres with a National League-best 73-39 record against the NL West since 2008. Worth noting ‧ Philadelphia is 187-113 in the second half since 2007, the best winning percentage in the Majors during that time. ‧ The Giants' bullpen has an 0.28 ERA since the All-Star break. On the team's recently completed six-game homestand, Giants relievers allowed only one hit in 13 2/3 shutout innings. ‧ San Francisco's Nate Schierholtz is hitting .354 with eight doubles, three homers and 16 RBIs in his last 26 games. --

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