The Braves and Phillies kick off a second straight weekend series, and Atlanta is hoping for a repeat from the last one when they took two of three. Friday's game begins at 7:35 on Peachtree TV and Fox Sports South.
Phillies Lineup:
1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Shane Victorino, CF
3. Placido Polanco, 3B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Ben Francisco, RF
6. Raul Ibanez, LF
7. Pete Orr, 2B
8. Carlos Ruiz, C
9. Cole Hamels, SP
Braves Lineup:
1. Martin Prado, LF
2. Nate McLouth, CF
3. Chipper Jones, 3B
4. Brian McCann, C
5. Dan Uggla, 2B
6. Freddie Freeman, 1B
7. Alex Gonzalez, SS
8. Joe Mather, RF
9. Brandon Beachy, SP
Cole Hamels (47.2 IP, 2.83 ERA, 2.74 FIP, 2.59 xFIP, 2.08 BB/9, 9.25 K/9, 47.9 GB%, 11.2 SwStr%)
(49.6 FB%, 22.7 CH%, 21.4 CT%, 6.3 CB%; 48.1 Swing%, 75.7 Contact%)
vs.
Brandon Beachy (42.1 IP, 2.98 ERA, 2.97 FIP, 3.15 xFIP, 2.34 BB/9, 9.57 K/9, 30.5 GB%, 9.8 SwStr%)
(62.8 FB%, 17.3 SL%, 10 CB%, 9.9 CH%; 46.8 Swing%, 78.3 Contact%)
Hamels has already faced the Braves twice this season, and he has allowed three runs with two walks and 17 strikeouts in 14 innings. His most recent start was against Atlanta, allowing all three of those runs on five hits in seven innings with nine strikeouts. All three runs came on two home runs by Alex Gonzalez and Freddie Freeman. Hamels continues to have the best K/BB of his career so far at 4.45, due in large part to an uptick in strikeouts.
For what seems like the thousandth time, Beachy is facing the Phillies. It's in fact his second appearance against them this season after allowing four runs in six innings with just two strikeouts against them in April. Beachy set a season high for strikeouts with nine last time out, and he continues to show excellent control by walking just two over his last 19 innings.
Opposing Numbers:
The Braves have less than stellar numbers against Hamels. Dan Uggla is 6-43 with a homer. Alex Gonzalez is 4-18. Nate McLouth is 3-11. Brian McCann has a better history against Hamels at 12-43 with six doubles, a homer and 11 RBIs. Martin Prado is 11-37. Chipper Jones is 9-30 with four doubles and two homers.
The Phillies have had Beachy's number before. Ryan Howard is 2-6 with a double and two walks. Raul Ibanez is 3-6 with a double, RBI and two walks. Shane Victorino is 3-6. But Ben Francisco, Jimmy Rollins and Placido Polanco are a combined 2-18.
What to Look For:
Being able to hit Hamels. It hasn't happened much aside from a couple home runs this season, and the Braves simply can't go through another 8-9+ strikeout game and expect to win.
For more on the series, Braves fans check out Talking Chop and Phillies fans check out The Good Phight.