Series Preview: Phillies at Braves, September 26-29

The Phillies (72-86) will close out their 2013 season with a four-game series against the postseason bound Atlanta Braves (93-65).

When the teams last met in Philadelphia earlier this month, the Braves were swept in a three-game set. The Phils have dropped four of six meetings at Turner Field, where this series will take place, thus far this season.

Read ahead for full details on the pitching match ups and loads more statistics from this series.

Thursday, 7:10 PM. Tyler Cloyd (2-6, 5.40 ERA) vs. David Hale (0-0, 0.00 ERA). In three starts this month, Cloyd has an 11.77 ERA. In six road starts, Cloyd is 2-2 with a 4.60 ERA. Hale, a 25-year-old Princeton product, threw five scoreless frames in his big league debut against the Padres earlier this month. Hale had a 6-9 record with a 3.22 ERA in 22 Triple-A games this season.

Friday, 7:30 PM. Cliff Lee (14-7, 2.93 ERA) vs. Kris Medlen (14-12, 3.24 ERA). In 14 career games against Atlanta, Lee has a 7-5 record with a 2.95 ERA. Lee sports a 7-2 record with a 2.52 ERA in 15 road starts this season. Freddie Freeman is 1-for-11 against Lee this year. Medlen has a 3-2 record with a 5.17 ERA and a .306 batting average against in 17 career games against the Phillies. In his last five starts, Medlen is 4-0 with a 1.03 ERA. Medlen, a righty, has a 2.45 ERA in 16 home games this year.

Saturday, 7:10 PM. To be determined vs. Mike Minor (13-8, 3.22 ERA). With arm fatigue experienced by righty hurler Roy Halladay earlier this week, the Phillies are slated to utilize their bullpen throughout Saturday's contest. Minor is 0-4 with a 4.15 ERA in four starts this month. In 16 home starts this year, Minor has a 6-4 record with a 3.65 ERA and a .223 batting average against. Chase Utley is 4-for-17 (.235 avg) with a homer in his career against Minor.

Sunday, 1:35 PM. Zach Miner (0-1, 3.08 ERA) vs. Julio Teheran (13-8, 3.09 ERA). The 31-year-old Miner has a 3.65 ERA and a .306 batting average against in seven road contests this year. B.J. Upton is 3-for-11 (.273 avg) with a double in his career against Miner. Teheran, 22, has a 2.66 ERA in 11 starts since the All-Star break. In 15 home games this year, Teheran has a 7-4 record with a 2.82 ERA. Jimmy Rollins is 4-for-6 (.667 avg) with a double and a home run in his career against Teheran.

In 27 road games this season, Darin Ruf is batting .217 with three homers and seven RBI. Ruf has a .333 average with three home runs and five RBI in 12 career games against the Braves.

Chase Utley is batting .347 with two home runs and 16 RBI in 21 games this month. In 15 games against Atlanta this year, Utley has a .310 average with two homers and nine RBI.

Domonic Brown, who hit 12 home runs in 28 May games, has hit 12 home runs in 81 games since then.

Atlanta closer Craig Kimbrel has 15 saves and a 1.11 ERA in 26 career games against the Phillies. Kimbrel has a 0.80 ERA in 34 home games this season.

Justin Upton, who leads the Braves in homers with 26 this season, has a .295 career average with seven homers and 16 RBI in 39 games against the Phils.

Outfielder Jordan Schafer has a .143 average with two homers and three RBI in 16 career games against the Phillies. The lefty batting Schafer sports a .167 average since the All-Star break.

Phillies team OPS in September- .698 (16th in MLB)
Braves team OPS in September- .640 (28th in MLB)

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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