Friday, May 13, 2011
Posted: 12:25 p.m.
CSNPhilly.com
Phillies (24-12) at Braves (21-18), 7:35 p.m. on WPHL
Starting Pitchers
Phillies: Prior to his last start, a 5-2 loss to the Braves on May 8, Cole Hamels (4-2, 2.83) had guided the Phils to five straight victories. He was not bad against Atlanta, allowing three earned on five hits in seven innings, but he did allow two costly homers. Hamels (0.99) is one of just 13 pitchers in the majors with a WHIP under 1.00 in at least seven starts.
Brewers: Brandon Beachy (1-1, 2.98) is coming off possibly his best start of the season, a six-inning gem against the Brewers on May 5. In leading the Braves to a 2-1 win over Milwaukee, Beachy allowed just four hits and no earned runs, while striking out nine. He has gone at least six innings and has allowed two runs or less in each of his last four starts.
Previous games
The Braves are coming off a taxing series against the Nationals, to whom Atlanta dropped two of three. The last two games of the series both went to extra innings, with the Braves grabbing the finale, a 6-5 thriller in 10 innings. The Braves vaunted bullpen was forced to work 13 13 innings over the three games in Washington.
The Phils rebounded impressively from a loss in the highly-anticipated Roy Halladay-Josh Johnson showdown with a 5-3 victory over the Marlins in the series finale. Though the bats were lifeless early, the Phils posted five runs in the final three innings to secure a series win over the Fish.
Head-to-head
In the last series against Atlanta, the Phils dropped two of three, managing just five runs in three games. The clubs are an even 3-3 against each other this season.
In three career starts against the Phils, Beachy is 0-3 with a 3.93 ERA. He has allowed 18 hits in 16 total innings against the Phils, walking six and striking out eight.
Hamels dominates Dan Uggla, allowing just six hits and three RBIs in 43 at-bats, while striking out Uggla 13 times.
Whos hot?
Shane Victorino homered in the series finale against Florida to extend his hitting streak to 14 games. He has 18 hits, including three homers and four triples over that span.
MLB
Martin Prado has had a pair of knocks in each of the Braves last three games. He is coming off his first four-RBI performance of the season.
Storylines
Carlos Ruiz will likely be behind the plate for the Phils after a stint on the DL. He went 1-for-3 in a rehab start in Clearwater on Thursday night.
Sound off
Roy Oswalt looked less than sharp in his rehab start on Thursday, allowing three runs on seven hits in five innings of work. Is Oswalts health something Phils fans should be worried about?