Phillies Begin Final Road Trip in Atlanta

Aug 21, 2015; Miami, FL, USA;

The Phillies are scheduled to send rookie righty Eickhoff to the mound on Saturday.

(Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports)

PITCHING MATCHUPS

FRIDAY: Williams Perez (5-6, 5.36 ERA) vs Adam Morgan (5-6, 4.60 ERA) – For what is likely the only time this entire season, the Phillies arguably have the best starting pitcher taking the mound in each of the three games of a series. It begins with a matchup of 24-year old rookies. Perez has made two starts against the Phils this season. Back on July 31st, the Phillies roped him around for 9 earned runs in just 4.1 innings. But on September 7th, Perez had one of his best outings of the year, allowing just 2 earned runs on 6 hits in a 7 inning effort during which he struck out 7 and walked none. Morgan has been solid for the Phillies, showing that he can likely be counted on as a regular member of the 2016 rotation. However, 3 of his last 4 outings have been sub par. In that time, the lefty has gone 1-2 with a 6.43 ERA, allowing 26 hits in 21 innings.

SATURDAY: Ryan Weber (0-1, 4.38 ERA) vs Jerad Eickhoff (1-3, 3.90 ERA) – Weber had a nice season in the Braves minors system this year, and then received a September call-up to the bigs. In the minors, split between AA and AAA, the 25-year old righty had a 6-5 record with a 2.35 ERA and 0.93 WHIP. In his two big league starts, Weber has allowed just 9 hits in 12.1 innings with a 4/3 K:BB ratio. Eickhoff has made 5 starts for the Phils since coming over in the Hamels trade, and 4 of them have been Quality Start efforts. The 25-year old has allowed just 26 hits in 30 innings. Against the Cubs last Saturday, Eichoff had his best outing yet, striking out 8 while allowing just 1 earned run on 3 hits across 7 strong innings.

SUNDAY: Julio Teheran (10-7, 4.34 ERA) vs Aaron Nola (6-2, 4.11 ERA) – For now, the Phils have Nola scheduled to make this start, though they could change their minds and pull the plug on his season at any point. Still, the likelihood is that he will indeed take the mound for what could be the final time in the 2015 season. The 22-year old rookie had been fantastic up until his most recent outing this past Monday at home vs the Nationals. The Phillies are likely hoping that he pitches well here, and leaves for the off-season with a good, strong, confidence-building outing as his final memory of the year. Teheran is the best that the Braves have right now, and he has been hot, with 7 of his last 9 as Quality Starts, just missing one his last time out vs the tough Blue Jays on Tuesday.

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