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.

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 . _________

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 gro

McGwire Stays Phony, Despite Admitting Drug Use

Mark McGwire made an effort to publicly come clean today, admitting to the world that he took performance enhancing drugs during his playing career. Steroids and human growth hormones were among the drugs that McGwire admitted to using. MLB Network featured a one on one interview with Bob Costas and McGwire on Monday evening. The broadcast was virtually garbage, thanks to McGwire. Ahead is a list of quotes from McGwire's interview. McGwire repeatedly stated his point of view that there were no dishonorable intentions involved when taking steroids, and that he was merely using them as a means to recover from varying ailments. When asked if he felt like he cheated... "As I look back now...I can see how people would say that. As far as the talent goes and the hand-eye coordination, the ability, the genetics I was given...I don't see it." "I did not take this for any strength purposes." Denial. Read on for similar B.S. He whined about the abuse he'

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