Phillies Series Preview: vs Atlanta Braves
By Matt Veasey
The Philadelphia Phillies host the division rival Atlanta Braves in a three game series at Citizens Bank Park beginning on Independence Day.
The Phillies welcome in the division rival Atlanta Braves for a three game series at Citizens Bank Park. Thanks to the opener being held on Independence Day and a series finale, two of the games will be day games.
The Fourth of July opener will begin at 4:05pm, which may be fortunate, as heavy rains are possible for tonight. Tuesdays second game has a normal 7:05pm weekday night game start time, while the Wednesday finale will begin at 1:05pm.
The Braves are one of just eight MLB teams with a worse record than the Fightin’ Phils as the series opens. However, while Atlanta has lost five of their last seven games, the Phillies are playing well, having won five of six, and seven of their last ten games.
The key for the Phillies recent improvement has been a drastically improved offensive attack. The club is scoring nearly two runs per game more than they had been during their month of losing from mid-May through late June.
The Braves offensive attack, as it were, is usually a pretty poor one, featuring just two consistent performers.
1st baseman Freddie Freeman is the clear leader. The 26-year old lefty bat is hitting for a .292/.375/.516 slash line with 14 home runs and 31 RBI. Right fielder Nick Markakis is a clutch run-producer, with a club-leading 42 RBI.
26-year old 2nd baseman Jace Peterson has hit well, with a .283 average and .350 on-base percentage. He has 20 runs scored and 14 RBI in just 144 plate appearances.
Jeff Francoeur, a Phillies fan favorite off his lone season here a year ago, should see action in both right and left fields. The now 32-year old is hitting for just a .254/.292/.364 slash line with 18 RBI and 19 runs scored over 185 plate appearances.
Center fielder Ender Inciarte has eight stolen bases to lead active Braves players. Catcher Tyler Flowers (6) and 3rd baseman Adonis Garcia (5) are second and third on the club in home runs. As I said, it’s generally a poor offensive attack.
Brian Snitker is an organizational man who took over the reigns as skipper when Fredi Gonzalez was fired following a 9-28 start to the season. The club has played better under Snitker, with a 19-26 mark since his hiring.
When Snitker turns to the bullpen he has a solid 25-year old closer at his disposal in Arodys Vizcaino, who sports a 2.31 ERA and has allowed 29 hits over 35 innings. Walks are a problem, however. Vizcaino has issued 20 free passes against 47 strikeouts.
Veteran righties Jason Grilli, Alexi Ogando, Chris Withrow, and Jim Johnson come out of the bullpen as setup arms, while Ian Krol and Hunter Cervenka are the lefty options. None is particularly overwhelming.
Perhaps the best arm available out of the Braves pen is its youngest member, 22-year old recent call-up Mauricio Cabrera, who has yet to allow a run over his first four big league appearances.
This series has been served up on a platter for the Phillies, if they want to prove that they are going to produce a season much different from a year ago.
The Braves are a poor team with plenty of holes and few offensive threats. The Phillies are playing well, hitting the ball with authority, getting improved pitching, and playing in front of their home fans.
After this series, the Phils will fly out to Colorado for a four-game weekend series at Coors Field with the host Rockies, which will be the final series before a four-day break for the MLB All-Star Game festivities.
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