Phinally here…..
Philadelphia Phillies (81-81 in 2012) @ Atlanta Braves (94-68 in 2012, won NL Wild Card)
Pitching Match-Ups:
Cole Hamels (17-6, 3.05, 215.1 IP, 216 K's) vs. Tim Hudson (16-7, 3.62, 179 IP, 102 K's)
Roy Halladay (11-8, 4.49, 156.1 IP, 132 K's) vs. Paul Maholm (13-11, 3.67, 189 IP, 140 K's)
Cliff Lee (6-9, 3.16, 211 IP, 207 K's) vs. Kris Medlen (10-1, 1.57, 138 IP, 120 K's)
Where: Turner Field in Atlanta
Game Times: Monday- 7 PM, Wednesday- 7:10 PM, Thursday- 7:10 PM.
National TV- Monday-ESPN
Phillies Newcomer Debuts- Ben Revere, Michael Young, Mike Adams, Chad Durbin
Some Braves New Faces- Juan Francisco, Julio Teheran, Jordan Walden, Chris Johnson, B.J. Upton, Justin Upton
ATLANTA 2012 Offensive Ranks- 17th in runs, 21st in average, 13th in on-base percentage, 22nd in slugging.
PHILADELPHIA 2012 Offensive Ranks- 19th in runs, 15th in average, 17th in on-base percentage, 17th in slugging.
ON THE BRAVES- Well, we'll finally see their off-season pick-ups play a game. The Upton brothers make their debut together in Atlanta tonight, hoping to make people forget the names Prado, Chipper, and Bourn. Phillies fans will be thrilled to rid themselves of Jones especially, who seemed to take away a win or two a year, but also Prado who was a total pest. The Braves not only boast a dynamic outfield that may be the game's best by season's end, but a bullpen that has the kind of back-end depth that ends games any time they have a lead after 7. The big question about these Braves is their starting staff, which has a very different look to it now. The other question on this team is whether their offense is actually better, or stayed in place. They absolutely raked the ball this spring, and particularly Jayson Heyward seems ready to break out to me.
ON THE PHILLIES- After a dreadful 81-81 season broke up their run of NL East's, they get to open up in the ballpark of one of their chief rivals. The biggest question mark of the Phillies season will get the baseball on Wednesday night as all of the legions of Philadelphia fans will be collectively holding their breath. For Opening Day though, Phillies fans will get to see three welcome sites they haven't seen lately- Ryan Howard missed last year's opener, Chase Utley missed the last pair of openers, and Dom Brown makes his opening day debut. The offense hit the ball very well this spring, and the back-end relievers ended the spring throwing very, very well. Obviously though, this team is built on their front-end starting pitchers, and right now you get to see them kick things off. A return to 2011 performance by this staff would greatly change the outlook of many, which seems to go from disaster to euphoria, depending on who you ask. Michael Young and Ben Revere will make their club debuts on Opening Day, and Erik Kratz gets his first opener with the Phillies behind the plate. The Phillies must improve on their 33-39 NL East record in 2013.
On the series- On paper, the Phillies have a pitching edge here. Tim Hudson has had a great run, but Cole Hamels should be a superior pitcher in 2013. Halladay has been the best pitcher of the last decade, while Maholm has not been, though he had a good 2012. Medlen's 2012 was amazing, but no one is mistaking his pedigree for Lee's. With that said, you really don't know where these guys are at on April 1st of a new season, playing in Atlanta, and with all the question marks on Halladay. Lee and Medlen should be a duel on Thursday. Ryan Howard is the player to watch for the Phillies in this series, after a great spring, facing a team he hits very well.
PREDICTION- I've got the Phillies in the opener, and the second game, but the Braves squeak out the finale in a low-scoring affair. PHILLIES 2 OF 3.
