The Braves make their first visit to Philadelphia this weekend, as the Braves (12-16) will face the Phillies (17-11) in a 3-game series. The series opener will see the 2nd meeting of Derek Lowe and Jamie Moyer this season. The first match up saw Moyer come out on top, when he pitched 6 shut out innings in Atlanta. That win clinched the series victory for the Phils. Off to a good start after winning that series opener against the Phils, the Braves have lost 11 of 15 games since then.
The Braves won 5 of the 9 games against the Phils at Citizens Bank Park last season. Atlanta is currently in last place, 5 games behind the division leading Phillies.
The Braves won 5 of the 9 games against the Phils at Citizens Bank Park last season. Atlanta is currently in last place, 5 games behind the division leading Phillies.
Read ahead for pitching match ups and other key stats from this series.
Friday, 7:05pm. Derek Lowe (4-2, 5.81 ERA) vs. Jamie Moyer (3-2, 5.70 ERA). Lowe is 4-0 with a 1.60 ERA in five career starts at Citizens Bank Park. Lowe is 6-2 with a 2.87 ERA in 15 career games against Philadelphia. Raul Ibanez is 2-for-28 (.071 avg) in his career against Lowe. Moyer has pitched 6 innings in each of his 5 starts...no less, no more. Moyer is 1-1 with a 7.50 ERA at home this season, in 2 starts. Moyer has alternated wins and losses this season...his last decision was a win. Troy Glaus is 19-for-57 (.333 avg) with 5 doubles and 5 homers against Moyer.
Saturday, 3:10pm. Kris Medlen (1-1, 2.55 ERA) vs. Joe Blanton (0-1, 5.40 ERA). Medlen, in his second Major League season, will be making his first start of the 2010 season. In 7 games against the Phils last year, Medlen allowed 6 earned runs in 8 innings (6.75 ERA). Chase Utley and Shane Victorino each have 2 hits in 3 at bats against Medlen. In 5 starts against the Braves last year, Blanton had a 1-1 record with a 5.23 ERA. Martin Prado is 5-f0r-9 (.556 avg) with 2 homers against Blanton.
Sunday, 1:35pm. Kenshin Kawakami (0-5, 5.47 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (4.42 ERA). Opponents are batting .298 against Kawakami thus far in 2010. In 2 starts against the Phillies last year, Kawakami was 1-0 with a 3.65 ERA. Chase Utley is 0-for-6 against Kawakami. Hamels is 1-1 with a 2.91 ERA in 3 home starts this season. In 14 career starts against Atlanta, Hamels has a 7-4 record with a 3.94 ERA. Chipper Jones is 9-for-22 (.409 avg) against Hamels with 4 doubles and 2 homers.
Martin Prado is a .345 career hitter with 4 homeruns in 40 games against the Phillies.
In 10 games this season, Billy Wagner has 3 saves and 1 blown save. He has a 1.80 ERA and has held opponents to a .147 batting average against. In 80 career games at Citizens Bank Park, Wagner has a 2.00 ERA.
On the current home stand, Jayson Werth is 12-for-26 with 2 homers and 7 RBI, helping the Phillies win 5 of 7 games. Werth is batting .405 at home this year with a 1.241 OPS.
Ryan Howard is a career .337 hitter with 32 homeruns in 87 games against Atlanta. Howard has hit just 1 of his 5 homeruns at Citizens Bank Park this season.
On this home stand, Carlos Ruiz is 8-for-18 (.444 avg) with 4 walks, 2 doubles, a homer and 5 RBI.
Friday, 7:05pm. Derek Lowe (4-2, 5.81 ERA) vs. Jamie Moyer (3-2, 5.70 ERA). Lowe is 4-0 with a 1.60 ERA in five career starts at Citizens Bank Park. Lowe is 6-2 with a 2.87 ERA in 15 career games against Philadelphia. Raul Ibanez is 2-for-28 (.071 avg) in his career against Lowe. Moyer has pitched 6 innings in each of his 5 starts...no less, no more. Moyer is 1-1 with a 7.50 ERA at home this season, in 2 starts. Moyer has alternated wins and losses this season...his last decision was a win. Troy Glaus is 19-for-57 (.333 avg) with 5 doubles and 5 homers against Moyer.
Saturday, 3:10pm. Kris Medlen (1-1, 2.55 ERA) vs. Joe Blanton (0-1, 5.40 ERA). Medlen, in his second Major League season, will be making his first start of the 2010 season. In 7 games against the Phils last year, Medlen allowed 6 earned runs in 8 innings (6.75 ERA). Chase Utley and Shane Victorino each have 2 hits in 3 at bats against Medlen. In 5 starts against the Braves last year, Blanton had a 1-1 record with a 5.23 ERA. Martin Prado is 5-f0r-9 (.556 avg) with 2 homers against Blanton.
Sunday, 1:35pm. Kenshin Kawakami (0-5, 5.47 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (4.42 ERA). Opponents are batting .298 against Kawakami thus far in 2010. In 2 starts against the Phillies last year, Kawakami was 1-0 with a 3.65 ERA. Chase Utley is 0-for-6 against Kawakami. Hamels is 1-1 with a 2.91 ERA in 3 home starts this season. In 14 career starts against Atlanta, Hamels has a 7-4 record with a 3.94 ERA. Chipper Jones is 9-for-22 (.409 avg) against Hamels with 4 doubles and 2 homers.
Martin Prado is a .345 career hitter with 4 homeruns in 40 games against the Phillies.
In 10 games this season, Billy Wagner has 3 saves and 1 blown save. He has a 1.80 ERA and has held opponents to a .147 batting average against. In 80 career games at Citizens Bank Park, Wagner has a 2.00 ERA.
On the current home stand, Jayson Werth is 12-for-26 with 2 homers and 7 RBI, helping the Phillies win 5 of 7 games. Werth is batting .405 at home this year with a 1.241 OPS.
Ryan Howard is a career .337 hitter with 32 homeruns in 87 games against Atlanta. Howard has hit just 1 of his 5 homeruns at Citizens Bank Park this season.
On this home stand, Carlos Ruiz is 8-for-18 (.444 avg) with 4 walks, 2 doubles, a homer and 5 RBI.
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