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Weekend Series Preview: Phillies @ Braves, 9/18-9/20


The first place Phillies (85-60), whose magic number currently sits at 10 to win the division, will visit the second place Braves (78-68) over the weekend, for a three game series. With 17 games remaining, the Phillies have a 7 1/2 game lead over Atlanta in the NL East division. The Braves have won 7 games in a row. Read on for details on the pitching matchups and other notes on this series.

Friday, 7:35pm. "Jay" Happ (10-4, 2.77 ERA) vs. Tim Hudson (1-0, 3.63 ERA). In 5 career games against Atlanta, Happ is 2-0 with a 2.15 ERA. On the road this season, Happ is 6-2, through 16 games, with a 1.88 ERA and a .208 batting average against. Hudson is 4-5 with a 3.79 ERA in 14 career starts against the Phillies. Raul Ibanez and Ryan Howard combined, are 23-for-69 (.333 avg) against Hudson in their careers, with 4 homers, 11 RBI and 10 walks.

Saturday, 7:10pm. Pedro Martinez (5-0, 2.87 ERA) vs. Javier Vazquez (13-9, 3.01 ERA). In 9 career starts at Turner Field, Martinez is 4-5 with a 4.70 ERA. Pedro's home/road ERA splits, since joining the Phillies- 0.90/5.09. Chipper Jones is a .188 career hitter (9-for-48) against Martinez, with 3 homers and 10 RBI. In his career against Philadelphia, Vazquez is 11-8 with a 4.44 ERA in 27 starts. Vazquez is 7-2 with a 3.10 ERA in 11 starts since the all star break. Raul Ibanez and Ryan Howard are a combined 12-for-35 (.343 avg) with 7 homers, 11 RBI and 4 walks against Vazquez in their careers.

Sunday, 1:35pm. Cliff Lee (7-2, 2.67 ERA) vs. Tommy Hanson (10-3, 2.65 ERA). Lee's first loss as a Phillie came against the Braves, when they scored 6 earned runs off of him in 5 innings. It is the only game that Lee has given up more than a single homer as a Phillie. Garrett Anderson is 10-for-20 (.500 avg) with a HR and 8 RBI against Lee in his career. Hanson at home this season is 7-1 with a 3.00 ERA in 9 starts. Hanson's ERA over his last 7 starts is 1.76. Ryan Howard is 1-for-1 off of Hanson, it was a HR. Raul Ibanez is 0-for-1 off of Hanson.


Chipper Jones aggravated his left groin during a pinch hit appearance on Wednesday and is not likely to play on Friday.

Brian McCann vs the Phillies in 2008- 21-for-59 (.356 avg), 3 homers, 17 RBI, 1.150 OPS in 18 games.
Brian McCann vs the Phillies in 2009- 14-for-59 (.237 avg), 4 homers, 13 RBI, .755 OPS in 15 games.

Carlos Ruiz has 5 career homeruns against the Braves in 41 games played. 2 of those are off of Tim Hudson in 14 at bats.

Phillies team runs scored-730
Braves team runs scored- 662

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