Series Preview: Braves at Phillies, August 6-8

The Braves (62-46) travel to Philadelphia to begin a three-game series with the Phillies (49-59) on Monday night at Citizens Bank Park. In the past month, the two clubs have faced each other in two separate series, with the Braves winning all six of the contests.

Atlanta’s recent dominance over the Phils is the opposite of how things went last season, when the Phillies handed the Braves six losses toward the end of the 2011 season. Those defeats shut the door on Atlanta’s postseason hopes.

Read ahead for notes on the pitching the match ups and additional statistical information on this series.

Monday, 7:05 PM. Ben Sheets (3-1, 1.46 ERA) vs. Vance Worley (6-6, 3.63 ERA). In 9 career starts against the Phillies, Sheets has a 3-4 record with a 4.50 ERA. Ty Wigginton is 12-for-36 (.333 avg) with 2 doubles and 2 HR in his career against Sheets. The righty Sheets was the Brewers' 1st round draft pick in 1999. In his last 5 starts, Worley has a 2-1 record with a 4.06 ERA. In 9 home starts this season, Worley has a 2-3 record with a 4.73 ERA. Dan Uggla is 3-for-7 with 2 HR in his career against Worley.

Tuesday, 7:05 PM. Mike Minor (6-7, 5.01 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (11-6, 3.34 ERA). Minor is 2-1 with a 1.74 ERA in his last 5 starts. In 10 road starts this year, Minor has a 2-5 record with a 6.16 ERA. Chase Utley is 3-for-5 with a HR against Minor. In 26 career games against the Braves, Hamels has an 11-7 record with a 3.75 ERA. Hamels has a 1-3 record with a 3.51 ERA in his last 7 starts. Dan Uggla is 8-for-55 (.145 avg) with 2 doubles and 2 HR in his career against Hamels.

Wednesday, 7:05 PM. Tim Hudson (11-4, 3.45 ERA) vs. Kyle Kendrick (4-9, 4.45 ERA). Hudson is 5-1 with a 2.22 ERA in 7 road starts this year. In 7 career starts at Citizens Bank Park, Hudson has a 2-3 record with a 3.63 ERA. Ryan Howard is 19-for-58 (.328 average) with 6 HR in his career against Hudson. In 12 home outings this season, Kendrick has a 2-6 record with a 4.30 ERA. Martin Prado is 7-for-15 (.467 avg) with a homer against Kendrick.

In 50 road games this season, Jason Heyward is batting .291 with 10 HR and 30 RBI. Heyward is a career .206 hitter in 37 games against the Phillies.

Brian McCann is batting .310 with 6 HR and 16 RBI in 7 games against the Phillies this year. In 18 games since the All-Star break, McCann has posted a .228 batting average.

In 17 career games against the Phillies, righty reliever Craig Kimbrel has 8 saves, 2 blown saves, a 1.17 ERA and a .122 batting average against.

Jimmy Rollins is batting .179 in 9 games against the Braves this season. Rollins is sporting a .202 average in 21 games since the All-Star break.

In 23 home outings this season, lefty reliever Antonio Bastardo has posted a 0-2 record with a 6.52 ERA. Bastardo has a 4.60 ERA in 16 career games against Atlanta.

Ryan Howard is batting .273 with 3 HR and 9 RBI in 11 home games this season. Howard's 37 HR against the Braves are the most he has hit against any team.

Braves runs scored since the All-Star break- 108 (12th in MLB)
Phillies runs scored since the All-Star break- 81 (25th in MLB)
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This Guy Speaks For All of You

This individual, interviewed by FOX 29 on Friday as the Phillies arrived back at Citizens Bank Park, said it best. When asked how he felt regarding the Phillies, he told Steve Keeley that he was, "Stoked, baby!" The unidentified phanatic then proclaimed, "We are talking about the Fightins here, the Fightins! Said!" Check out the media player below, as the transcribed version certainly does not do this phireball of phandom justice. The Phillies forced game 6 of the National League Championship Series with a 4-2 victory over the Giants in San Francisco on Thursday night. Game 6 will feature Roy Oswalt vs. Jonathan Sanchez in a return pitching match up from game 2. First pitch is scheduled for 7:57 pm EST at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Be sure to tune in on 97.3 ESPN's Weekend Sports Guide with Tyrone Johnson this afternoon around 1:15pm to hear me chatting about the Phillies! 97.3 is based in Atlantic City. You can listen live online HERE . _________

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Former Phillie Charlie Hayes helping to groom future Phillies

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