(Photo: Kevin Durso/Philliedelphia)
It's finally here! Opening Day is here!
It's been a very long time since we've seen some Phillies baseball that actually mattered. Tonight the Phillies will take on the Braves in game 1 of 162 in the 2013 season. Cole Hamels (2012: 17-6, 3.05 ERA) and Tim Hudson (2012: 16-7, 3.62 ERA) will square off to open up a three-game series. With both teams holding numerous new acuqisitions, it will be very interesting to see how these new moves effect each team.
Cole Hamels will make his first Opening Day start of his career tonight. A well-deserved honor, Hamels will become the third different pitcher to start on Opening Day in the past six years (Brett Myers: 2007-09, Roy Halladay: 2010-12). Hamels held opposing batters to .237/.285/.337 last season while striking out a career-high 216 batters. After signing a six-year contract extension last July, Hamels basically cemented his career in Philadelphia. Finishing off a career year in 2012, Hamels is ready to lead the Phillies back from the depths of Offseason Hell and towards the postseason. In his career, Hamels has a 12-7 record and a 3.58 ERA against the Braves.
Tim Hudson is looking to give the Braves an good start towards the new campaign. With the acquisitions of the Brothers Upton, the Braves have re-structured their outfield in an attempt to better themselves in the NL East. The 37-year-old Hudson is coming off of a strong season with the Braves, going 16-7 last year. In 28 starts, Hudson held opposing hitters to a .248/.304/.361 line. Hudson held the Phillies to a .263 BAA last season, maintaining a 2-1 record against his NL East rivals. In his career against Philadelphia , Hudson is 10-9 with a 3.76 ERA.
Game Notes:
- It's Opening Day: It'd be great to start off with a W, but there's still 161 more games to play.
- Cole Hamels will make his first career Opening Day start tonight (hopefully with his mustache).
- Ben Revere will lead off tonight's game, leaving Jimmy Rollins out of the Opening Day leadoff spot for the first time since 2004.
Phillies lineup:
- Ben Revere CF
- Jimmy Rollins SS
- Chase Utley 2B
- Ryan Howard 1B
- Michael Young 3B
- Domonic Brown LF
- John Mayberry Jr. RF
- Erik Kratz C
- Cole Hamels P.
Braves lineup:
- Andrelton Simmonds SS
- Jayson Heyward RF
- Justin Upton LF
- Freddie Freeman 1B
- B.J. Upton CF
- Dan Uggla 2B
- Chris Johnson 3B
- Gerald Laird C
- Tim Hudson P.
Gametime Forecast: 68°F • Sunny • 0%PoP
TV: ESPN2, MyPHL17
Radio: 94 WIP (FM) ; 1210 WPHT (AM)
Let's Go Phillies!
Erik Seybold is a writer for Philliedelphia. Follow him on Twitter @ErikSeyboldPHI.
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