Philadelphia Phillies vs. Atlanta Braves Series Preview
by TonyAlmeyda on May 13, 2011 12:59 PM EDT
in Series Previews & Recaps
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The Phillies are back for (hopefully) more punishment!
Just a week after taking two of three from the Phillies in Philadelphia, the Braves welcome them to Atlanta for a three-game series. Not much has changed in the last four days: the Phillies come in having taken two of three against Florida, while the Braves enter the series fresh off a walk-off victory on Thursday to salvage a win against Washington.
The Phillies enter the series at 24-12, 4.5 games ahead of the 21-18 Braves. The Braves have gained 1.5 games on the Phillies since May began, winning eight of 11 while the Phillies have won six of 10.
This is Civil Rights Weekend; Morgan Freeman, Ernie Banks and Carlos Santana (the musician) will be honored. Don Newcombe will be in attendance and of course, Hank Aaron.
Pitching matchups and more after the jump.
Friday, May 13, 7:35 p.m. EST
Hamels pitched Sunday against the Braves in Philadelphia, surrendering a pair of home runs while striking out nine in a 5-2 loss. The loss was his sixth against the Braves alongside 10 wins.
Beachy's last start came May 5 against Milwaukee; he allowed one unearned run in six innings of work in a 2-1 win. All three of his career losses thus far have been against the Phillies, so he'll look to change his luck against them on a most unlucky day: Friday the 13th.
Saturday, May 14, 1:10 p.m. EST
Blanton has been dealing with some recent elbow issues. He earned the win May 9 against Florida after returning from the DL, but said his right elbow still wasn't 100% and that it was "cranky". He sports a 5.67 ERA in 46 innings against the Braves with a 1-3 record.
Jurrjens earned the win Sunday against the Phillies, outpitching Cole Hamels in allowing only one run in 6.1 innings. The win was his fourth in 10 starts against them and is now 4-0 overall this season.
Sunday, May 15, 1:35 p.m. EST
Halladay was on the short end of a 2-1 pitcher's duel Tuesday against Florida, but he's had much success against the Braves. He's 4-0 against them with a miniscule 1.26 ERA. He already has three complete games in 2011, which leads all of MLB and ranks third in the NL in ERA at 2.05. This will be Halladay's first start against the Braves this year.
Hudson last start was a forgetful one. The defense behind him let him down and he only lasted five innings, giving up seven runs in the process May 10 against Washington. He cruised to a win in his last start against the Phillies April 8 in Atlanta, pitching 7.2 innings of a 6-3 victory.
OTHER NOTES
- Shane Victorino currently has a 14-game hitting streak. His personal best is 16.
- Brian Schneider left Wednesday's game in the fifth inning with a strained left hamstring and was placed on the DL Thursday. Carlos Ruiz was activated from the DL Friday, replacing Schneider; he had been sidelined since late April with lower back inflammation.
- Jimmy Rollins has reached base in 19 straight games and is hitting .324 (12 for 37) in his last nine games.
- Jason Heyward's MRI revealed nothing more than inflammation in his right shoulder. He took a cortisone shot, but may be out for most of this series and limited only to pinch-running. However, Frank Wren said Heyward's availability would be based on how well he feels.
- Roger McDowell returns to the Braves bench after his two-week suspension for making inappropriate comments and gestures towards fans in San Francisco.
OUTLOOK
The Braves are carrying momentum from a walk-off win, but Hamels can be tough and Halladay is near unhittable. A series win would be huge.
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I assume when you say that Halladay has won all four starts against the Braves, you mean “since he’s been with the Phillies”? I very clearly remember him NOT winning in his start against the Braves when he was with Toronto. He got outpitched by KK. Final score was 1-0, Braves.
"Never doubt Derek Lowe's ability to win despite himself."
by EricGreggWasPaidOff on May 13, 2011 1:30 PM EDT reply actions
My mistake. He’s 4-0 in five games, four of them starts. I completely forgot about that.
I'm a former CTU agent, so don't f--k with me!
People just loooove to forget anything related to KK pitching well. :-p
"Never doubt Derek Lowe's ability to win despite himself."
by EricGreggWasPaidOff on May 13, 2011 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s totally because I’m racist against Asians…
by TBuzz on May 13, 2011 2:33 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
My prediction:
We can beat Blanton. We will probably lose to Halladay. Tonight’s game will decide the series.
"It wasn’t that it was slippery or anything like that. It was just, dadgum, my hands and the balls were so wet..." - Tim Hudson
by KoKo the Monkey (T-Bone) on May 13, 2011 1:31 PM EDT reply actions
I predict we'll take 2 out of 3 and bounce back from losing the series to the nats
ESPN can give the Philthies all the verbal BJs they want, Braves will still clinch the east!
by suicide bunting is a sin on May 13, 2011 1:40 PM EDT reply actions
It still cracks me up that Hudson’s picture is all, “Whuuuuuuuuuuuuuut?”
LIVE EDT
Tape-delayed for the West Coast
Beachy's still my favorite.
I can’t look at it without going “Awww, yeahhh. He got dis.”
Most people use statistics the way a drunk would use a lamppost—for support, and not for illumination.
www.duwanis.com
Halladay’s picture looks like it’s from a movie where he just murdered someone and someone walked in and caught him.
Chicks dig the long ball.
DOB: Did you ever hit balls as hard as Jason Heyward does?
Chipper: Is that possible?
Or this guy:
If we can land [Stephen Drew], I will give FW a bj.
~justincredubil02
by king of games on May 13, 2011 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Hope they do hold Jason out the whole series
He has a tendency to want to get back up on that hoss a little too quick, performance and health be damned. Med staff and Fredi Gonzalez need to make sure he has plenty of time to put this behind him.
The Road to the World Series still comes through Atlanta
These teams are so evenly matched that anything could happen this series. Beachy’s been awesome, but Hamels is tough. JJ is due to slip back a little. Halladay vs. Hudson should be a classic, and the Braves will be hard pressed after a tough Nats series and two days against the Phillies to give a quality effort against arguably the game’s best pitcher. Grind ’em out, and then move on.
And the lovable Phanatic meets his maker.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm7wP1i0H5E
Castrologist
Ahhhh, baseball talk.
Just what I needed.
"Curve: The loveliest distance between two points." ~ Mae West
A good ol' fashioned...
ass whooping tonight of Hamels and the Phillies would be fantastic. I hope we draw well. We’ll see what level of Braves Enthusiasm this town has. I think we drew 150,000 the last series of last season against the Phils. I doubt that happens this weekend. What can I say? We don’t show up until it really matters. This town has been through a lot of painful losses. It needs another title. Keep taking steps, Bravos.
Castrologist
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