Braves and Phillies Weekend Preview

Fresh off being swept in two games by the Metropolitans, our Phillies head home to begin a three game weekend series with the Atlanta Braves. The Phillies are 6-8 at home. The Braves are 8-6 on the road. Check out the pitching match ups and notes that follow.


Friday, 7:05 pm. Jo-Jo Reyes (0-1, 5.00 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (0-2, 7.27 ERA). Reyes has 5 career appearances against the Phillies and has not done well. His record against the Phils is 0-2 and his ERA is 6.94. Jimmy Rollins is 0-for-13 off Reyes, while Jayson Werth, Shane Victorino, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Pedro Feliz combine for a .340 batting avg. (17-for-50). In 11 career starts against the Braves, Hamels is 6-3 with a 3.45 ERA with 73 innings pitched. Brain McCann is a .381 career hitter (8-for-21) off Hamels. McCann has been on the disabled list since April 25th, and is eligible to be activated on Friday.


Saturday, 3:40 pm. Javier Vazquez (2-3, 4.19 ERA) vs. Joe Blanton (1-2, 6.84 ERA). Vazquez is 10-7 with a 4.55 ERA in his career against the Phils. Jimmy Rollins is a career .170 hitter (8-for-47) against Vazquez. In 2 career starts against Atlanta, Blanton has thrown 6 innings and allowed 9 earned runs (13.50 ERA). In 3 home starts this season, Blanton has allowed 16 earned runs in 14 1/3 innings pitched (10.05 ERA). Brain McCann is the only Braves hitter with a homerun off Blanton...McCann is 3-for-3 off of him.


Sunday, 12:35 pm. Kenshin Kawakami (1-4, 6-41) vs. Brett Myers (2-2, 5.35 ERA). Kawakami has not faced the Phillies before. He has lost his last 4 starts, and has a 10.13 ERA in two day starts this season. In 27 games against the Braves, Myers is 4-9, with 4 saves and a 4.66 ERA. Brian McCann and Chipper Jones combine for a career .365 avg. against Myers (23-for-63) with 5 homers and 15 RBI. Both of Myers' losses have occurred at home this season, although his ERA is more than a full run better at home (home- 4.82, road-5.89).