The Phillies were able to get out of Miami with one win yesterday and avoid a sweep, as Severino Gonzalez picked up his first Major League victory, before being optioned to AAA Lehigh Valley. The Braves picked up a shutout victory yesterday over the Cincinnati Reds behind their ace, Julio Teheran. Luckily for the Phillies they will not face Teheran this series. The Braves took two games out of a four game series with the Reds.
The two teams meet for a three-game series in Atlanta beginning tonight, as Aaron Harang and Alex Wood go head to head.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies | Atlanta Braves | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Aaron Harang | RHP | Alex Wood | ||
| (2-2, 2.51 ERA) | (1-1, 4.03 ERA) | ||||
Aaron Harang spent 2014 with the Atlanta Braves before signing with the Phillies as a free agent. Like 2015, Harang started off strong with the Braves last season, completing April with a 3-2 record and 2.97 earned run average. Harang closed April 2015 with a 2-2 record and 2.51 earned run average.
In Harang's last outing he saw his quality-start streak end. After eight straight quality starts, Harang allowed five earned runs in six innings of work against the St. Louis Cardinals en route to a Phillies loss. Harang's only other loss of the season was a tough-luck loss in which he allowed just one earned run in six innings against the Mets on April 13.
Alex Wood has been so-so for the Braves in 2015. A typical number-five starter, Wood has pitched well enough to keep his team in the game without any major blowouts, usually pitching between five and six innings. Wood generally does not go too deep into games.
Wood's two best starts came on April 12 against the Mets and April 19 against the Blue Jays; in both he lasted six and two-thirds innings while allowing three earned runs. Wood is coming off of his worst start in 2015, in which he pitched five innings and allowed five earned runs against the Washington Nationals.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (9-17) | Atlanta Braves (12-13) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | LF | Ben Revere | L | 1 | RF | Nick Markakis | L |
| 2 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 2 | SS | Andrelton Simmons | R |
| 3 | 2B | Chase Utley | L | 3 | 1B | Freddie Freeman | L |
| 4 | 1B | Darin Ruf | R | 4 | C | A.J. Pierzynski | L |
| 5 | RF | Jeff Francoeur | R | 5 | LF | Johnny Gomes | R |
| 6 | 3B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 6 | 3B | Alberto Callaspo | S |
| 7 | C | Carlos Ruiz | R | 7 | 2B | Jace Peterson | L |
| 8 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S | 8 | CF | Cameron Maybin | R |
| 9 | P | Aaron Harang | R | 9 | P | Alex Wood | R |
The Phillies lineup will feature as many right-handed hitters as the team could put together without starting backup infielder Andres Blanco. Ryan Howard gets a day off after a two-hit day Sunday, and third baseman Cody Asche gets a breather as well. That means Darin Ruf gets a start at first base and switch-hitter Cesar Hernandez will get a start at third base, a day after playing shortstop. Jeff Francoeur, in the lineup most of the time in 2015, will start in right field.
The Braves are not the offensive force to which the Phillies have become accustomed. Veteran catcher A.J. Pierzynski has found his way into being the Braves cleanup hitter. After trading Evan Gattis and Justin Upton, the hitters who surrounded first baseman Freddie Freeman, Freeman has fewer options to drive in runs. Center fielder Cameron Maybin is hitting better than B.J./Melvin Upton ever did for the Braves, but is still hitting an underwhelming .222.
Broadcast Information:
- First-pitch: 7:10 pm EST
- TV: CSN
- Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, SBP 1480 (Sp.)
What's Next:
The Phillies and Braves will play two more in Atlanta, both 7:10 starts. Chad Billingsley will get his first start since 2013 for the Phillies on Tuesday, taking on Shelby Miller. On Wednesday, Jerome Williams will face Mike Foltynewich.
Frank Klose is founder of Philliedelphia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Philliedelphia
