A.J. Burnett Makes Final Start Of 2014 As Phillies Face Aaron Harang, Braves

2014 has been a forgettable season for Phillies righthander A.J. Burnett.  Dealing with a sports hernia for the duration of the season, Burnett has compiled an 8-17 record and 4.53 ERA heading into his final start.   Burnett could be making the final start of his major league career today.  While Burnett holds a $12.75 million player option for 2015, he has frequently hinted that he would retire at season's end.   Earlier, Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg expressed that he had no idea whether or not Burnett would pitch after 2014.

The Atlanta Braves are in an absolute free fall.  Once playoff contenders, the Braves are a putrid 5-18 in the month of September.   After finishing 96-66 last season, the Braves have clinched their first losing season since 2008, and only their third since 1990.  The Braves' season has been so bad that they fired their general manager, Frank Wren.  Wren worked for the Braves for eight season before being named General Manager in 2007.  The Braves' signings of B.J. Upton and Dan Uggla have become Wren's most infamous moves, which should continue to handicap the Braves for years forward.

Aaron Harang will take the mound for the Atlanta Braves.  Harang put together a very impressive April, but has been mediocre since.   Combined, Harang is 11-12 with a 3.60 ERA.  Harang's last three starts have been impressive, though, going seven innings in each of the three games, allowing just two, two, and one earned run, respectively.   Lefties are hitting .287 against Harang, so the Phillies' left-handed bats are in the lineup today.

Game Notes:

• Jonathan Papelbon sits at 39 saves heading into the offseason.  Should Papelbon notch his 40th save, he will join Steve Bedrosian, Mitch Williams, Jose Mesa, and Brad Lidge as the only Phillies closers to notch 40 or more saves in a season.
• Ryan Howard has 189 strikeouts heading into the final two games.  Howard set the all-time season record with 199 back in 2007.  Howard matched 199 the next season, but Mark Reynolds broke Howard's record by striking out 204 times.  The current record is held by Reynolds, who struck out 223 times in 2009.
• Ben Revere will not win a batting title, but he could close 2014 with the most hits in baseball.  Revere's 182 is one ahead of Denard Span of the Nationals.
• Freddy Galvis gets the day off.  Galvis has played every day since September 8, when Jimmy Rollins went down with a hamstring injury.

Phillies Lineup:

1. Ben Revere CF
2. Cody Asche 3B
3. Chase Utley 2B
4. Ryan Howard 1B
5. Marlon Byrd RF
6. Domonic Brown LF
7. Wil Nieves C
8. Andres Blanco SS
9. A.J. Burnett

Braves Lineup:

1. Emilio Bonifacio 2B
2. Andrelton Simmons SS
3. Freddie Freeman 1B
4. Justin Upton LF
5. Jason Heyward RF
6. Christian Bethancourt C
7. Chris Johnson 3B
8. B.J. Upton CF
9. Aaron Herang P

First Pitch: 7:05 PM ET

Location: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA

Weather: 77^o F, Clear, 0% PoP

TV: CSN

Radio: 1210 WPHT, 94 WIP