Phillies at Braves series preview: 8/21- 8/23

Another series, another preview. The Phillies head south to take on their divisional rival Braves in a three-game series beginning Friday night.

Atlanta at 14-11 sit atop the National League East Division. Fresh off getting swept in a double header at the Blue Jays on Thursday, the Phillies and their 9-12 record reside at the bottom of the division.

A brief rundown of the pitching match ups and other key notes from this series are ahead.

Friday, 7:10pm. Aaron Nola (2-1, 2.05 ERA) vs. Max Fried (3-0, 1.24 ERA). In 19 career starts against Atlanta, Nola has an 11-5 record with a 2.82 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. Ronald Acuna Jr. is 7-for-22 (.318 avg) with two home runs and four RBI in his career when facing Nola. In 2019 Nola had a 4.75 ERA in six starts against the Braves. Fried allowed two earned runs in his first start this season and in four starts since then he has allowed just two total runs, both earned. The lefty Fried has a 2-2 record with a 4.55 ERA in 10 career appearances (four starts) against the Phillies. JT Realmuto is 5-for-15 with a triple, two homers and five RBI against Fried.

Saturday, 7:10pm. Zack Wheeler (3-0, 2.81 ERA) vs. Robbie Erlin (0-0, 5.14 ERA). In 14 career starts against Atlanta, Wheeler sports a 6-5 record, a 4.04 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. Freddie Freeman is 14-for-29 (.483 avg) with three doubles, two homers and seven RBI in his career against Wheeler. Erlin previously pitched for the Pirates this season, but was claimed off waivers by the Braves. The left-handed Erlin has a 3.00 ERA in six appearances against the Phils. Bryce Harper is 6-for-8 (.750 avg) with a double, a triple and six RBI in his career against Erlin.

Sunday, 7:08pm. Zach Eflin (0-1, 5.14 ERA) vs. Josh Tomlin (1-0, 2.35 ERA). Acuna is 4-for-9 (.444 avg) with a homer in his career against Eflin. In seven starts against Atlanta, Eflin has tallied a 3-3 record with a 3.66 ERA. In nine career appearances, all in relief, against the Phillies, the righty Tomlin has a 4.00 ERA. Didi Gregorius is 0-for-8 against Tomlin in his career.

Rhys Hoskins, image- Jay Floyd

Rhys Hoskins is a .231 hitter with six homers and 22 RBI in 48 career games against the Braves. Hoskins is batting .190 in 12 night games this season.

In 82 games against the Braves, JT Realmuto has a .279 average with 15 home runs and 48 RBI. Realmuto is batting .231 in three road games this year.

1n 135 games against the Braves in his career, Harper has a .278 average with 33 home runs and 82 RBI.

Catcher Travis d'Arnaud, a former Phillies prospect, is a .269 hitter with nine homers in 66 career games against the team that drafted him. d'Arnaud was traded to Toronto in the deal that brought back Roy Halladay.

Shortstop Dansby Swanson sports a .253 batting average with six homers and 20 RBI in 53 games against the Phillies.

The Phillies team OPS of .800 ranks second best in the majors. The Braves' .762 mark ranks 12th in MLB.

The Phillies' 8.07 bullpen ERA is the worst in all of MLB. Atlanta's 3.51 bullpen ERA is 7th best in the big leagues.

2017 Phillies Prospects Countdown: #4 OF Mickey Moniak

Mickey Moniak, image- Joe Wombough Taken with the top overall selection in last year's MLB amateur draft, outfielder Mickey Moniak has garnered a lot of attention as a highly promising talent in the Phillies' developmental ranks. After signing out of La Costa Canyon High School for a reported $6.1 million, the lefty batting Moniak had a very good professional debut. In 46 games with the Phillies' Gulf Coast League team, Moniak posted a .284 batting average with 11 doubles, four triples, a home run and 28 RBI. Additionally, he showed some speed, swiping 10 bases in 14 opportunities. Following the regular season, Moniak participated in the Florida Instructional League and spent time at the Phillies' training facility in Clearwater, where he worked to add strength and muscle to his six-foot-two 185-pound frame. At the plate, Moniak, who was committed to play at UCLA prior to the 2016 draft, makes steady, hard contact. He is touted as a line drive hitter tha...

2019 Phillies Prospects Countdown: #9 OF Dylan Cozens

Dylan Cozens, image- Jay Floyd Powerful outfield prospect Dylan Cozens hopes to shake the reputation of a free swinger and become a more complete hitter in order to fulfill his dream of reaching the major leagues. At six feet six inches tall and weighing 245 pounds, Cozens has an imposing frame that was well-suited for the grid iron, as he was a two-sport star in his high school days. After he was chosen in the 2nd round of the 2012 draft, Cozens debuted in the minors with the rookie level Gulf Coast Phillies. In 50 games there, he notched 15 doubles, two triples, five homers and 24 RBI. Cozens also participated in the Florida Instructional League in 2012. Following a productive spring in 2013, Cozens was retained in extended spring training and made his official season debut with the Class A short-season Williamsport Crosscutters when they began playing in June. Cozens was among the league leaders in many categories that year, ...

Chris Truby Speaks on Santana & Other BlueClaws Matters

On Monday, it was announced that the Astros selected outfielder Domingo Santana as the player to be named later in the late July trade that sent Hunter Pence to the Phillies. Santana, a Dominican born slugger, posted a .269 average with 7 HR and 32 RBI in 96 games with the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws. The 19-year-old is regarded as a five tool talent and has been ranked among the Phillies' top ten prospects by multiple national outlets. I had the opportunity to speak with Lakewood manager Chris Truby about Santana, the PTBNL list of five Phillies prospects that the Astros had to choose from, as well as other matters pertaining to the BlueClaws, as they enter the final few weeks of their regular season. Check out the media player below to hear the full interview. ______________________________________________ You can follow PhoulBallz on Twitter by clicking HERE . You can also connect with PhoulBallz on Facebook by clicking HERE .

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