Phillies Choose October 6th To Start Playoff Series

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Philadelphia Phillies have chosen to play their NL division series over an eight-day schedule, allowing them to go with a three-man starting rotation because of an extra off day.

Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels are Philadelphia's top starters. Phillies' manager Charlie Manuel said on Tuesday he knows which will start Game 1 at home on October 6th, but won't announce that decision yet.

Game 2 will be October 8th.

The Phillies clinched the NL's best record by beating Washington 8-0 on Monday. That allowed them to pick whether to have a seven- or eight-day schedule if the first-round series goes the full five games.

Manuel also said he will give Ryan Howard and Chase Utley days off before the regular season ends on Sunday. Both were in Philadelphia's lineup against Washington on Tuesday.

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