Series preview: vs Philadelphia Phillies
When (TV): 1:10 p.m. Monday (SPSO, ESPN), 7:10 p.m. Tuesday (SPSO), 12:10 p.m. Wednesday (SPSO)
Radio: 680, 93.7, 106.7
Probable starting pitchers
Monday: Braves RH Julio Teheran (13-9, 2.90 ERA) vs. LH Cole Hamels (7-6, 2.59)
Tuesday: Braves LH Mike Minor (6-8, 4.70) vs. RH Kyle Kendrick (7-11, 4.97)
Wednesday: Braves RH Ervin Santana (13-7, 3.53 ERA) vs. RH David Buchanan (6-7, 4.03)
About the Braves
Batting: Jason Heyward had 19 multi-hit games in his previous 41 games entering Sunday, batting .348 over that span that dates to July 8. Justin Upton was hitting .293 for the month of August, entering Sunday, with an NL-leading 28 RBIs and seven homers – second-best in the NL. He had hit safely in 20 of 27 games this month and had six game-winning RBIs. His 28 RBIs were the most in a month by a Braves player since Troy Glaus drove in 28 in May 2010.
Pitching: This is a rematch of a Teheran-vs.-Hamels showdown June 16 at Turner Field when Teheran gave up only a Ryan Howard home run in eight innings. Hamels pitched seven shutout innings in a game the Phillies won 6-1 in 13 innings. Teheran has done some of his best work this season against the Phillies, going 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA in three starts against them, including his 1-0 shutout gem against Cliff Lee at Citizens Bank Park on April 16.
Miscellaneous: The Braves lead the season series against the Phillies 8-5 and have won three of the four series between them. The Braves were swept by the Phillies June 16-18 but proceeded to win six of the next seven in the series. The Braves have posted a 2.78 ER in those 13 games against the Phillies overall.
About the Phillies
Batting: Domonic Brown, a Redan High product, had a career-high four hits including a home run in Sunday's loss to the Mets. He's 10-for-25 (.400) over his past seven games. Ryan Howard hit his 20th home run Sunday to reach the 20-homer mark for the first time in three seasons. Howard is hitting .310 (13-for-42) over the past 12 games, with three doubles, a homer and 10 RBIs. Howard has hit three home runs in 12 games against the Braves this season but is batting only .225 in that span.
Pitching: Hamels has pitched well against the Braves this season, as always, going 1-0 with a 0.64 ERA in two starts against them, allowing only one earned run in 14 innings, with two walks and 15 strikeouts. For his career, he is 15-8 with a 3.34 ERA in 33 games (32 starts) against the Braves. Hamels has allowed three or fewer earned runs for 17 consecutive starts dating to May 27. He got roughed up his second and third starts of the year but since May 11 is 7-4 with a 2.09 ERA.
Miscellaneous: John Mayberry Jr. is expected to be activated from the disabled list Monday in Atlanta. He has been out since July 21 with left wrist inflammation. After winning four in a row, the Phillies dropped two of three in New York over the weekend.
— Carroll Rogers
