Phillies Begin Final Road Trip in Atlanta

Sep 17, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA;

Atlanta fans wear bags during a game against Toronto at Turner Field earlier this week.

(Photo Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports)

The battle for the top pick in the 2016 MLB Amateur Draft moves into the spotlight this weekend as the Phillies head south to take on the Braves in Atlanta. It’s also the beginning of the Phils’ final 2015 road trip, a 9-game, 10-day swing that continues in Miami and Washington next week.

The Phillies currently sit at the bottom of the overall MLB standings with a 56-91 record, while the Braves are at 57-90, leaving them a game and a half behind the Phils in that “race” to the bottom headed into this weekend showdown.

Neither team has been very competitive in any way for a long time. The Phillies have lost 17 of their last 23 games, and haven’t won a series since late August. The Braves have been even worse. Imagine that being possible, Phils’ fans. But the Braves have now lost 30 of their last 36 games.

Since early August, Atlanta has won just one series. That was against the Phillies earlier this month when the Braves took 2 of 3 games at Citizens Bank Park. In the overall head-to-head series this season, the two teams have split their 16 games evenly.

Atlanta’s statistical offensive leader is 26-year old 1st baseman Freddie Freeman, who has 16 home runs. However, since returning from a 6-week stay on the DL from mid-June to late July, Freeman has just 4 homers and 15 RBi in 38 games with a .229 batting average and .351 slugging percentage.

Cameron Maybin, who we highlighted here at TBOH during a series back in July, is second on the club with both 10 homers and 52 RBI, and leads the Braves with 21 stolen bases.

Veteran catcher A.J. Pierzynski was having a nice season, but has lost playing time during September as the Braves get a long look at 23-year old catcher Christian Bethancourt. The rookie backstop has just a .204/.230/.293 slash line in 152 plate appearances.

If you enjoy defense, you’re going to like watching Atlanta shortstop Andrelton Simmons. The 25-year old is quite simply the best in the business at his position, and is well on his way to a 3rd consecutive National League Gold Glove award.

For their part, the Phillies have pretty much stopped hitting over the last two weeks. The club has scored 39 runs over the last dozen games in that stretch, but 21 of those came in one three game stretch. With their only consistent power threat, Ryan Howard, now out of the lineup for what is likely to be the rest of the season, runs won’t be coming any easier.

With the Phillies moving to a 6-man starting rotation, and the likely imminent shutdown for the season of outstanding rookie Aaron Nola, scheduled for now to go on Sunday, we’ll begin the series preview as usual with a look at the likely pitching matchups.

Next: PHILLIES-BRAVES PITCHING MATCHUPS

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.

Next: PHILLIES-BRAVES SERIES KEYS

Sep 6, 2015; Boston, MA, USA;

With Braves starting a trio of righties, Rule 5 rookie Herrera could be a key for Phils.

(Photo Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports)

SERIES KEYS

Just lose, baby! – legendary Oakland Raiders owner/coach Al Davis famously coined the “Just win, baby!” saying that has been co-opted in regards to the idea that, in pro sports in particular, it doesn’t matter how you do it, you just need to win the game. Well perhaps for the first time in my entire life, I can honestly say that I am not actively rooting for the Phillies to win.

Unlike some, I am not on board with the idea that there is nothing to play for on a positive note. With their three current best starting pitchers going, all of them rookies, getting wins behind solid performances from those pitchers will do a great deal for both the players and the team’s psyche as the 2015 campaign winds down. But there is a great deal to be said for controlling the 2016 MLB Draft top overall pick. Losing this series would go a long way towards securing that slot.

Get to the Braves rookie arms – okay, so you actually want to WIN these games? Well then, getting to both Perez and Weber in the first two games may be the best shot. These are two inexperienced arms, and the Phillies need to find a way to score and put pressure on each of them. Of course, the Phillies hitters are largely inexperienced as well, so that could prove a wash. All three are righthanders, so this would be a spot for Cody Asche and Odubel Herrera to come up big.

Next: PHILLIES-BRAVES: MEDIA/WEATHER/INJURIES

Sep 15, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA;

Sunset at Turner Field during third inning of a game between the Braves and Toronto.

(Photo Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports)

MEDIA WATCH: TV & RADIO SCHEDULE

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE forecast for Turner Field in Atlanta, Georgia

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 65. Northeast wind around 5 mph.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 87. Northeast wind around 5 mph.

Saturday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 67. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Sunday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. West wind around 5 mph.

INJURIES / DISABLED LISTS

Next: NOLA WRAPPING STELLAR ROOKIE SEASON