Neither the Boston Red Sox nor the Philadelphia Phillies are accustomed to spending much time at the bottom of the standings, and neither is playing like a last-place club right now.

The standings don’t lie, though, and they say this weekend’s interleague series at Citizens Bank Park is a matchup of cellar dwellers.

Cole Hamels will try to move the Phillies two games above .500 for the first time this season when he gets the ball Friday night, and given his recent performances and his track record against the Red Sox he seems likely to do just that.

Off to the best start of a stellar seven-year career, Hamels (5-1, 2.28 ERA) is trying to win a sixth consecutive decision for the first time. The Phillies have won each of his last six starts with Hamels compiling a 1.93 ERA.

The left-hander garnered a five-game suspension for intentionally throwing at Washington rookie Bryce Harper during a May 6 victory, but that ban only pushed his next start back one day. Hamels didn’t miss a beat Sunday, throwing seven innings of one-run ball to help Philadelphia beat San Diego 3-2.

“I know if I just go out there and I battle and try to pitch deep into the ball game and we put up some runs, then I can get wins,” Hamels said. “If we’re able to score early then I just have to work off that. There’s been a few times where we scored late. I think it’s helpful just being able to go out there and know that your team is going to come through at the end.”

If a suspension couldn’t slow Hamels down, the Red Sox may not be able to, either. Hamels is 3-0 in four career starts against the Red Sox with a 1.44 ERA – third-lowest of any pitcher since 1921 with a minimum of four starts versus Boston.

Curiously, Hamels is 2-10 with a 4.95 ERA against all other AL opponents.

Despite owning the longest active winning streak in the majors and a winning record, Philadelphia (20-19) remains at the bottom of the competitive NL East. The Phillies earned their fifth straight victory Thursday night, allowing four ninth-inning runs but holding on to beat the Cubs 8-7.

Carlos Ruiz had his sixth career four-hit game and three RBIs, Jimmy Rollins had two hits, a walk and scored three runs, and Hunter Pence added a two-run single.

While the Phillies boast the best record of any last-place club in the majors, the Red Sox (18-20) have the top mark among AL teams in last place. Boston has won six of seven after salvaging a two-game split with Thursday’s 5-3 victory at Tampa Bay.

Cody Ross hit his seventh home run and drove in four of Boston’s five runs Thursday. He could be primed for more Friday, as he has four homers in 35 at-bats off Hamels.

“Cody will give you everything he has,” Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said, “and it’s enough for me.”

Should Hamels leave in line for a win, he may set the stage for Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon to face his former teammates for the first time. Papelbon notched a franchise-record 219 saves in six seasons as Boston’s closer before departing via free agency this past offseason.

He’s been worth the four-year, $50 million investment thus far for Philadelphia, converting all 11 of his save opportunities while manager Charlie Manuel has taken pains never to use him for longer than an inning.

Since leaving the Red Sox, Papelbon has criticized both the Boston training staff and fans through the media. The Phillies do not visit Fenway Park this season.

When Papelbon departed, setup man Daniel Bard (3-4, 4.30) appeared likely to assume the closer role for the Red Sox. Instead, he’s been converted to a starter and has had mixed results heading into Friday’s outing.

Bard is coming off one of his stronger starts of the season, however. The right-hander limited Cleveland to one run over six innings of Sunday’s 12-1 victory.

The Red Sox hold a 27-19 edge in the all-time series against the Phillies, but Philadelphia took two of three from Boston last season at Citizens Bank Park. These clubs have met each season that interleague play has existed except 2002 and 2007.

BOSTON — Dustin Pedroia had three hits and three RBIs to back a solid outing by Clay Buchholz, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 7-5 Friday night to snap a three-game skid.

Will Middlebrooks hit a two-run double off Ubaldo Jimenez and Daniel Nava, called up from the minors Thursday, made a pair of outstanding defensive plays to help the last-place Red Sox (13-19) win for only the second time this month.

Boston had lost 11 of its past 12 home games and eight of nine overall.

David Ortiz went 1-for-3 and scored a run but left in the seventh due to a sore left heel. Ortiz was involved in a minor car accident on his way to Fenway Park but said before the game that he was uninjured.

Buchholz (4-1) allowed four runs — three earned — and eight hits over 61/3 innings. He walked three and did not have a strikeout.

Five relievers followed, with Alfredo Aceves earning his sixth save in eight chances.

The Red Sox chased Ubaldo Jimenez (3-3) in the fifth.

Jimenez walked five, hit a batter with a pitch and allowed nine hits and seven earned runs over 41/3 innings. He has walked 30 batters in 40 innings this season.

Carlos Santana had two RBIs for the Indians.

Travis Hafner was 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Indians, who dropped to 10-4 on the road this season.

NOTES: Indians third base coach Steve Smith was ejected for arguing the play at the plate in the second inning. Cleveland manager Manny Acta replaced Smith. … Johnny Damon’s run in the seventh was the 1,647th of his career, tying him with Cal Ripken Jr. for 34th place. … Henry Mahegan was the public address announcer. The Red Sox went without one Thursday in tribute to former PA announcer Carl Beane, who died on Wednesday. … Boston RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka, recovering from Tommy John surgery, is scheduled to make his fourth rehab start Saturday for Triple-A Pawtucket against Columbus. … The Red Sox acquired OF Scott Podsednik from the Philadelphia Phillies for cash. He will report to Triple-A Pawtucket.

- Looking to add depth to an outfield ravaged by injury, the Red Sox acquired Scott Podsednik from the Philadelphia Phillies for cash.

The Red Sox announced the move Friday night. Podsednik was hitting .203 with four RBIs and six stolen bases in 22 games at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

The speedy Podsednik, 36, last appeared in the majors in 2010 with the Royals and Dodgers. He will report to Triple-A Pawtucket.

Podsednik led the National League with 70 stolen bases in 2004.

He played in the 2005 All-Star game as a member of the Chicago White Sox.

The Red Sox have been without left fielder Carl Crawford all season. He had offseason surgery on his left wrist and is now sidelined with a sprained ligament in his throwing elbow. All-Star center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury injured his right shoulder during the second week of the season.

Boston acquired outfielder Marlon Byrd from the Chicago Cubs last month and recently called up Daniel Nava from the minors.

After last season’s embarrassing late-season collapse, which featured drinking and eating in the clubhouse during games, the Red Sox will be looking to bounce back this season. Thus, many of their star players should be extra motivated. What does that mean for fantasy baseball owners? Here’s a look at the top five Red Sox in fantasy baseball and what you can expect from them in 2012.

Jacoby Ellsbury.
Wikimedia Commons

Jon Lester (SP) — Lester has won at least 15 games in each of the last four seasons with an earned run average ranging between 3.21 and 3.47. In addition, the nasty southpaw has averaged nearly a strikeout per inning for his career. Lester is a notch below fantasy ace status, but he’s remarkably consistent and a great source for wins. This year’s pitching pool is deep, so don’t reach for him before round six.

Carl Crawford (OF) — Crawford has been the equal of projected first-round pick and teammate Jacoby Ellsbury. But he may be available at a discount after his off-the-cliff drop in production last season. Crawford’s stolen bases plummeted to 18 from 47 the year before—60 in 2009!—and his batting average tanked to .255. Crawford is one of the biggest risks on draft day, but I’d roll the dice on him in round five.

Dustin Pedroia (2B) — Pedroia may be the best pound-for-pound player in fantasy baseball. The BoSox second baseman, who missed more than half of 2010 due to injury, plays the game with reckless abandon, so there’s always a chance for injury. However, over the last four years, he is batting .307 and averaging 20 homers, 86 RBI and 116 runs scored per 162 games. He’s a safe choice in the second round.

Adrian Gonzalez (1B) — Many fantasy baseball owners predicted an easy 30 home runs for Gonzalez, who last season moved to hitter-friendly Fenway Park from vast PETCO Park. He blasted only 27 bombs, but compensated with a smoking .338 batting average. Frankly, most fantasy owners would trade in a few batting average point for more power. Either way, you can count on Gonzalez for solid numbers in both categories, plus at least 110 RBI. I can’t argue with taking him in the first or second round.

Jacoby Ellsbury (OF) — We all knew about his speed, but Ellsbury’s power surge of 32 home runs and 105 RBI last season sent shockwaves through fantasy baseball leagues. Ellsbury may not blast 30-something home runs again in 2012, but his ability to steal tons of bases, score runs and hit around .300 (he’s a career .301 hitter) makes him a first-round selection in almost all formats. There’s one fact, however, that troubles me: He had only 20 career home runs before last season.

* Unless otherwise noted, draft projections are based on participation in a 10-team fantasy baseball league with standard 5×5 scoring.

More fantasy baseball content from this Yahoo! contributor:

Fan’s Take: Top Five Toronto Blue Jays in Fantasy Baseball

Fan’s Take: Top Five Baltimore Orioles in Fantasy Baseball

Adam Martini is a freelance sports writer who roots for the New York Mets (and any team that is playing the New York Yankees ). A dedicated fantasy baseball player since 1998, his games of choice growing up were Strat-O-Matic and MicroLeague Baseball.

Sources

Baseball-Reference.com.

The Official Site of Major League Baseball.

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