After a nine-game homestand, Atlanta hits the road for seven games, beginning with tonight's three-game set in Philadelphia against the Phillies.
On the year, Philadelphia is 63-77 and 22.5 games back of the division-leading Braves. The Phillies sport the worst run differential in the division, -120, and are 4-6 in their last ten games.
Offensively, the Phils rank 12th in the National League in batting average (.245), 14th in on-base average (.303), 11th in slugging (.386), 14 in wOBA (.301), 14th in wRC+ (87), 8th in home runs (129), 7th in stolen bases (69), 14th in walk rate (6.8%), 7th in strikeout rate (20%) and 8th in ISO (.140).
Individually, it's Chase Utley and not much else for the Phillies these days. With Ben Revere and Ryan Howard out for the year, and Domonic Brown battling achillies soreness, it's a ragtag group of Phillies that are playing out the season. Utley leads the team at 3.4 fWAR, and is hitting .274/.344/.476 with a .354 wOBA and 124 wRC+.
Carlos Ruiz has gotten hot in recent weeks, bumping his season line up to .280/.327/.386 with a .313 wOBA and 96 wRC+. Shortstop Jimmy Rollins is struggling mightily, checking in with a meager .242/.309/.332 triple slash with a .285 wOBA and 76 wRC+.
Pitching matchups:
Friday September 6, 7:05 PM EDT. Fox Sports South
Saturday September 7, 7:05 PM ET. Fox Sports South.
Sunday September 8, 1:35 PM ET. Fox Sports South