Phillies Series Preview: vs Atlanta Braves

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.

Next: PHILLIES - BRAVES PITCHING MATCHUPS

PITCHING MATCHUPS: BRAVES AT PHILLIES

MONDAY: Jerad Eickhoff (5-9, 3.38 ERA) vs Joel De La Cruz (0-1, 4.50 ERA): De La Cruz is a longtime minor league veteran getting a big league opportunity due to both a series of injuries and the fact that the Braves are simply not very good. The now 27-year old righty originally signed with Milwaukee as an amateur free agent way back in 2006 and is on his fourth organization, with most of his time spent in the Yankees farm system. Mostly used as a reliever in the minors, he has made 42 starts. He gave Atlanta a Quality Start in his big league debut, lasting six innings while allowing three earned runs and seven hits vs the Cleveland Indians on June 29th. He struck out one and walked one in that outing, and this will be just his second start in the majors. Eickhoff has been strong, allowing two or fewer earned runs in five of his last six starts. 10 of his 16 starts have been Quality Starts this season.

TUESDAY: Zach Eflin (0-2, 5.75 ERA) vs Mike Foltynewicz (2-2, 3.72 ERA): Foltynewicz is a 24-year old righty who was the 1st round pick of the Houston Astros in the 2010 MLB Amateur Draft at 19th overall out of an Illinois high school. He came to Atlanta in the Evan Gattis deal back in January of 2015. He has made 22 big league starts over 41 appearances, and after beginning the year at AAA is now a regular member of the Atlanta rotation. He missed all of June with bone spurs in his elbow, lasting just three innings in his first start back off the DL, making 61 pitches against Miami on June 30th. Eflin is making his 5th career big league start after being promoted from AAA in mid-June. After being blown out early in his first start, his last three have been solid outings, having allowed just 15 hits and walking just one batter over 17.2 innings.

WEDNESDAY: Jeremy Hellickson (6-6, 4.06 ERA) vs Julio Teheran (3-7, 2.72 ERA): Teheran is the ace of the Atlanta rotation, and one of the best starters in the National League. The 25-year old right-hander has allowed just 81 hits over 112.2 innings with a 105/24 K:BB ratio with a 0.932 WHIP. Already in his 6th season at just age 25, Teheran’s name is being bandied about in numerous trade rumors, and those whispers could become a roar as the MLB trade deadline draws closer towards the end of the month. Hellickson is similarly going to be finding his name rumored heavily. A free agent following this season, the righty has been solid for the Phillies, who can move him later in the month and promote prospect Jake Thompson. The more strong outings that Hellickson produces, the better return price the Phils can demand as teams compete for his services.

Next: PHILLIES KEYS TO VICTORY OVER BRAVES

PHILLIES KEYS TO VICTORY OVER BRAVES

ROTATION QUALITY STARTS: Eickhoff, Eflin, and Hellickson have all been pitching well, and against what is usually a popgun offense, this is a chance for them to continue those strong outings. The weather will be heating up down at Citizens Bank Park, which can mean offensive numbers trending upwards. The trio of Phillies starters needs to keep the ball down, out of the middle of the plate, and make a bunch of weak hitters do their bidding. This is the time to win games, not make mental errors that will cost the team losses against an inferior opponent.

KEEP PROVIDING THE FIREWORKS: the Phillies offensive attack has been just that, a legitimate attack, for weeks now. Over the last three weeks, they have actually been one of the more consistent offensive teams in the game, having scored 70 runs over the last dozen games. Odubel Herrera has remained the club’s most consistent threat and is the likely NL All-Star when that team is announced this week. But the improvement has come thanks to hot stretches from outfielders Peter Bourjos and Cody Asche, catcher Cameron Rupp, and the return of Maikel Franco‘s power stroke. Getting Tommy Joseph untracked would be nice, but with a trio of righties going for Atlanta, we could see more of Ryan Howard in what should be some of his final appearances as a Phillies player this week.

Next: PHILLIES TV & RADIO BROADCAST SCHEDULE

PHILLIES TV & RADIO BROADCAST SCHEDULE

Next: WEATHER GETS STORMY, HEATS UP IN PHILLY

WEATHER FOR CITIZENS BANK PARK IN SOUTH PHILLY

Independence Day

A slight chance of showers after 3pm. Cloudy, with a high near 81. South wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tonight

Showers and thunderstorms likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 11pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Low around 71. Southeast wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.

Tuesday

Showers likely, mainly before 7am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 89. West wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. West wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm after midnight.

Wednesday

Sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.

Next: PHILLIES - BRAVES INJURIES / DISABLED LISTS