Since May 2, the Braves have played only three divisional games. That’s about to change.
Beginning with the first of three against the Phillies starting Monday, the Braves will play 17 National League East games among their last 26 before the July 14 All-Star break.
Julio Teheran kicks things off against the Phillies on Monday.
“I know the last time I pitched against them, it went well for me,” Teheran said, referencing his 1-0 shutout in Philadelphia on April 16. “I’m hopeful the same thing happens again this time. That’d be something great to for me.”
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said he’s confident will Teheran get the series off on the right foot.
“I don’t even worry about Julio anymore,” Gonzalez said. “I just run him out there every fifth day and he’s going to give us a great opportunity to win the game.”
Teheran said he’d like to repeat his performance, which was the first complete game of his career. But that’s not his focus.
“I’m trying to do the same thing I did against them last time and the same thing I’ve been doing in the games since, which have given me good results.” he said.
While the Braves clubhouse was aware of the Phillies’ pending arrival to Turner Field, on Sunday afternoon the team wasn’t concerned. The Phils just dropped two of three in a weekend series with Chicago and have lost 10 of their last 15 games.
“I’m not thinking about it, but I will, obviously after this game (with the Angels) ends tonight because we’re playing the Phillies and then we’ve got a four-game set against the Nationals. And so it’s divisions rivals and you want to play well,” Gonzalez said. “But it’s lurking in my mind.”
The Braves went into the final game with the Angels Sunday night tied with the Nationals. With identical 35-32 records, both teams are coming off tough weeks. The Nationals were swept at St. Louis over the weekend and have lost four straight. With Saturday night’s agonizing 11-6 extra-inning loss to the Angels, the Braves went into Sunday night with seven losses in their last 11 games.
Like Gonzalez, Teheran and his teammates try not look to far ahead in the standings.
“If I do my job, I know my team will do well in the rankings,” Teheran said.
In the last series that the Braves saw the Phillies, Evan Gattis hit two home runs on April 14. When the Braves faced the Phillies last year on Sept. 8, 2013, Gattis also hit two home runs off pitcher Cole Hamels, the Phillies’ Monday starter.
“It’d be good to get on a roll,” Gattis said. “It’s always good to beat in your division, but the job is always the same — always trying to win the game.”
