Philadelphia, PA – The Philadelphia Phillies (53-84) will open a 10-game homestand tonight in a Labor Day matchup against the Atlanta Braves (54-83).
The Phillies are coming off of a rough, six-game road trip in which they went 1-5 with a starter earned run average of 9.71 over 29 2/3 innings.
Aaron Harang will be tonight's starter for the Phillies, his 25th in red pinstripes.
Dating back to May 30, 2011 as a San Diego Padre, Harang is 3-0 with a 1.91 ERA over his last six starts, 37 2/3 innings, in opposition of the Braves.
Atlanta has dropped 12 consecutive games, their longest single-season skid since losing 17 straight in 1977 according to ESPN's John Buccigross.
The Braves stand exactly one game ahead of the last-place Phillies in the National League East division with 25 left to play.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Atlanta Braves (54-83) | Philadelphia Phillies (53-84) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Williams Perez | RHP | Aaron Harang | ||
| (4-6, 5.65 ERA) | (5-14, 4.89 ERA) | ||||
Entering his first and only career start against the Phillies on July 31, Perez was 4-0 with a 2.88 ERA over 50.0 innings.
That night, the right handed rookie surrendered a career-high nine runs on nine hits and four walks in just 4 1/3 innings, as he suffered his first career defeat.
The Phillies scored four runs against Perez in the bottom of the first inning, thanks to a three-RBI double by first baseman Ryan Howard, and a sacrifice fly-RBI by shortstop Freddy Galvis.
Including July 31 and his other six starts since, the 24-year-old is 0-6 with a 9.50 ERA and a 2.000 WHIP ratio in 36.0 innings.
Perez missed nearly the entire month of July with a left foot contusion.
Harang, 37, is 0-2 with a 8.13 ERA and a 1.627 WHIP ratio over his last five starts, four of which have occurred away from Citizens Bank Park.
The 14-year veteran 4-3 with a 3.48 ERA in 14 career starts against the Braves.
In three starts against the Braves this season, however, Harang has fared well, surrendering just 16 hits, three walks and two earned runs in 19.0 innings for a 1.42 ERA and a 1.000 WHIP ratio.
Starting Lineups:
| Atlanta Braves (54-83) | Philadelphia Phillies (53-84) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | RF | Nick Markakis | L | 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S |
| 2 | 3B | Hector Olivera | R | 2 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L |
| 3 | 1B | Freddie Freeman | L | 3 | RF | Aaron Altherr | R |
| 4 | C | A.J. Pierzynski | L | 4 | 1B | Ryan Howard | L |
| 5 | LF | Nick Swisher | S | 5 | LF | Darnell Sweeney | S |
| 6 | 2B | Jace Peterson | L | 6 | 3B | Cody Asche | L |
| 7 | SS | Andrelton Simmons | R | 7 | C | Cameron Rupp | R |
| 8 | CF | Michael Bourn | L | 8 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S |
| 9 | P | Williams Perez | R | 9 | P | Aaron Harang | R |
Game Notes:
- Over his last six games, Phillies rookie Odubel Herrera has 13 hits in 26 plate appearances, two of which went for extra bases (double, home run).
- Active members of the Braves are batting a combined .267/.333/.389 against Harang with three doubles, two triples, three home runs, 11 walks and 10 runs-batted-in over 131 at-bats.
- The Phillies have won six out of their last 10 meetings against the Braves at Citizens Bank Park, outscoring and outing them 43-31 and 92-80 respectively.
Broadcast Information:
- First-pitch: 7:05 pm EST
- TV: CSN
- Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
What's Next:
- Tuesday, September 8, 2015: vs. Atlanta Braves, 7:05 pm
- TBA vs. RHP Aaron Nola (5-2, 4.02 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
- Wednesday, September 9, 2015: vs. Atlanta Braves, 7:05 pm
- RHP Julio Teheran (9-7, 4.51 ERA) vs. TBA
- TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
Matt Rappa (@mattrappasports) is managing editor of Philliedelphia.com.
