Series Preview: Braves at Phillies, July 6-8

The last place Phillies (37-47) have yet to find a cure for their struggles this season. Returning from injury, Ryan Howard (left Achilles tendon) may offer a solution. The former National League Most Valuable Player has averaged more than 36 HR and over 121 RBI per year over the past three seasons for the Phils.

This weekend the Phillies will host the division rival Atlanta Braves (43-39) in a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park. Atlanta dropped two of three meetings with the Phillies when the two teams met earlier this season.

Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups and more statistical notes on this series.

Friday, 7:05 PM. Tim Hudson (6-4, 3.87 ERA) vs. Kyle Kendrick (2-8, 5.35 ERA). In 5 road starts this year, Hudson has a 3-1 record with a 2.34 ERA. Hudson is 1-3 with a 4.30 ERA in 6 career starts at Citizens Bank Park. Ryan Howard is 17-for-52 (.327 avg) with 6 HR and 14 RBI in his career against Hudson. In his last 5 starts, Kendrick has a 0-4 record with a 7.67 ERA. Kendrick has a 1-5 record with a 5.54 ERA in 8 home games this season. Martin Prado is 7-for-12 (.583 avg) with a HR in his career against Kendrick.

Saturday, 7:15 PM. Tommy Hanson (9-5, 3.70 ERA) vs. Joe Blanton (7-7, 4.85 ERA). In 8 career starts against the Phillies, Hanson has a 1-2 record with a 2.93 ERA. In his past 6 starts, Hanson has posted a 4-1 record with a 3.49 ERA. Ryan Howard is 2-for-15 (.133 avg) with a HR in his career against Hanson. Blanton has a 2-4 record with a 4.65 ERA in 12 games against the Braves. In his last 5 starts, Blanton has a 3-1 record with a 4.03 ERA.

Sunday, 1:35 PM. Jair Jurrjens (2-2, 5.19 ERA) vs. Vance Worley (4-5, 3.46 ERA). In 3 starts since returning from the minors, Jurrjens is 2-0 with a 1.47 ERA. Jurrjens has a 5-3 record with a 2.45 ERA in 11 career starts against the Phillies. Ryan Howard is 8-for-30 (.267 avg) with a triple and a HR in his career against Jurrjens. In 6 home starts this season, Worley has a 2-2 record with a 4.00 ERA. Dan Uggla is 2-for-5 with a homer and 2 walks in his career against Worley.

Uggla is a career .232 hitter with 23 HR and 65 RBI in 109 games against the Phillies. In 29 games since May, Uggla has posted a .144 batting average.

Former Phillie Michael Bourn has a .298 average with 2 HR, 10 RBI and 19 SB in 33 career games against the Phils.

In 31 career games against the Phillies, Jason Heyward is a .193 hitter with 1 HR and 2 RBI. Heyward is batting .296 with 9 HR and 26 RBI in 40 road games this season.

Carlos Ruiz is hitting .331 with 6 HR and 21 RBI in 39 home games this season. Ruiz is a .285 career hitter in 72 games against Atlanta.

In 35 career games against the Braves, Hunter Pence is a .323 hitter with 3 HR and 20 RBI.

Juan Pierre is batting .239 in 36 home games this year. Pierre is batting .442 in 23 day games in 2012.

Braves team ERA- 3.99 (15th in MLB)
Phillies team ERA- 4.22 (22nd in MLB)

_________________________________________

You can follow PhoulBallz on Twitter by clicking HERE.

Also connect with PhoulBallz on Facebook by clicking HERE.

PhoulBallz Interview: Reading second baseman Jesmuel Valentin

Jesmuel Valentin, image- Jay Floyd Switch-hitting infielder Jesmuel Valentin has been a bit of an underrated contributor with the Double-A Reading Fightins. Heading into action on Friday, Valentin was batting .339 over his last 14 games. Overall this season, the 22-year-old is batting .282 with four home runs and 35 RBI in 64 games. Valentin, who plays mostly second base, but dabbles at shortstop a bit also, is the son of former big leaguer Jose Valentin . The Puerto Rico native was a supplementary round pick (51st overall) of the Dodgers in 2012. He was acquired by the Phils as part of the Roberto Hernandez trade in 2014. Recently, I spoke with Jesmuel about his team's success, growing up around the game and more. Read ahead for that full interview. -The Reading team has been great and you've contributed very nicely to the club's success. What are your thoughts on competition in the Eastern League this year? I just came here with the mindset that...

2018 Phillies Prospect Countdown: #25 Second Baseman Jesmuel Valentin

Jesmuel Valentin, image- Jay Floyd Second baseman Jesmuel Valentin has become a solid contributor at each level he has played and could possess the ability to continue that success as he approaches the big leagues. Last year in spring training with the big league team Valentin proved he could contribute and earned consideration at making the Phillies opening day roster. His 2017 was cut short at the Triple-A level due to an injury in May, so he wasn't healthy for a call up during the season. But now, fully healthy and on the diamond in the Roberto Clemente League (the Puerto Rico Winter League), Valentin is hopeful he'll get another shot at his big league dream this year. Selected as the 51st overall draft pick in 2012, Valentin was quickly a well-hyped prospect in the Los Angeles Dodgers system. Upon signing his initial professional contract fresh out of high school, the switch-hitter debuted in the rookie level Arizona League, posting a .211 average while...

Rappers in Phillies Caps

Weekend greetings to you phine pholks out there. Today's post features pictures of rappers wearing Phillies caps. Why rappers in Phillies caps, you ask? Because... Any other questions? We will start things off properly by going with a highly recognizable hip hop star. 50 Cent stays constantly relavant by consistantly creating radio friendly material to help sell (G) units, while he "keeps it real" by still rapping about the thug life he lived before becoming the 2nd highest earning black entertainer in America. 50 is seen here in a recent interview rocking a throw-back Phillies cap. Next up we'll use a throw-back screen cap from what may be the very first major appearance by a rapper wearing Phillies gear. Chuck D, of legendary rap group Public Enemy, wore a Phillies cap in the music video for rap anthem Fight The Power in 1989. The song was the lead single from the soundtrack for Spike Lee's film Do The Right Thing . Next up we'll go with some home grown tal...

PhoulBallz.com

Search This Blog