The Phillies being their final series of the year tonight in Atlanta to face the 2013 National League East Champion Atlanta Braves. The Braves are coming off an interesting brawl in which Brewers outfielder Chris Gomez, angry about being hit by a pitch earlier this season, purposely celebrated after hitting a home run off of Braves starter Paul Malholm. Catcher Brian McCann refused to let Gomez tough home plate and hilarity ensued. It's worth a watch. The Phillies hope to match that level of excitement in their series with the Braves.
Tyler Cloyd will take the ball for the Phillies. Cloyd's last appearance was the rainy home game against the New York Mets in which he gave up five earned runs in five innings of work. Cloyd has been roughed up in the Major Leagues for the Phillies this season; all-in-all he is 2-6 with a 5.71 ERA. He will make his last start for the Phillies this season with his best memory being his five scoreless innings of relief in the 18-inning contest against the Arizona Diamondbacks on August 25.
The Braves will start David Hale. No, it's not THAT David Hale. I am sure that there will be plenty of jokes tonight sent in the direction of the former Phillies beat writer. This David Hale is making just his second major league start, his second major league apperance. Hale's one start was a five-inning scoreless start against the San Diego Padres. The 26 year-old righthander went 6-9 with a 3.22 ERA for AAA Gwinnett before being called up to the big club.
Maybe the fans will show up tonight. Brian Bumgautner, most famous for playing Kevin Malone on NBC's "The Office", had a couple observations about the Atlanta crowd, that probably won't show up tonight either:
MOST striking to me about Braves/ Brewers incident footage- how EMPTY Turner Field in ATL is. Aren't we 3 games from postseason?? Shocking.
— Brian Baumgartner (@BBBaumgartner) September 26, 2013
Maybe Braves are losing this week to AVOID home field in postseason. They know its only way to play in front of a crowd for the playoffs.
— Brian Baumgartner (@BBBaumgartner) September 26, 2013
Game Notes:
- Chase Utley get the day off; Freddy Galvis will start in his place
- Cody Asche returns to the lineup after two consecutive days off.
- Dan Uggla and Justin Upton get tonight off, as the Braves prepare for the playoffs
- B.J. Upton is just plain benched. Hitting just .184, Upton lost playing time to Evan Gattis. With Gattis in left field, Justin Upton has been playing right field, and Jason Heyward center.
Phillies Lineup:
- Cesar Hernandez CF
- Jimmy Rollins SS
- Domonic Brown LF
- Darin Ruf RF
- Kevin Frandsen 1B
- Cody Asche 3B
- Erik Kratz C
- Freddy Galvis 2B
- Tyler Cloyd P
Braves Lineup:
- Jason Heyward CF
- Elliott Johnson 2B
- Freddie Freeman 1B
- Evan Gattis LF
- Brian McCann C
- Chris Johnson 3B
- Andrelton Simmons SS
- Jordan Schafer RF
- David Hale P
First Pitch: 7:10
TV: CSN Philly
Radio: 94WIP, 1210WPHT
