Series preview: vs. Phillies
When (TV): 7:10 p.m. (SPSO) Monday – Wednesday.
Radio: 680, 93.7, 100.5
Probable starting pitchers:
Monday: Braves RH Julio Teheran (9-5, 2.96) vs. LH Cole Hamels (4-13, 3.81)
Tuesday: Braves RH Kris Medlen (9-10, 3.85) vs. RH Ethan Martin (1-1, 6.75)
Wednesday: Braves RH Brandon Beachy (1-0, 5.00) vs. LH John Lannan (3-5, 4.81)
About the Braves:
Batting: Freddie Freeman hit a three-run opposite field home run Sunday, making him .452 (43-of-95) with runners in scoring position, second-best in the majors. Jason Heyward went 4-for-5 Sunday to match his career-high in hits; he had four hits three times in 2010. He raised his average to .377 (20-for-53) with 18 runs in 14 games since moving to the leadoff spot. Brian McCann is hitting .571 (12-for—21) in five games against the Phillies this season, after homering in six straight games against them in 2012.
Pitching: Teheran has allowed one or no runs in each of his past four starts and 10 times total this season, the most for a Braves pitcher 22 or younger since Steve Avery had 11 in 1992. He hasn't pitched against the Phillies since 2011 when he faced them twice in the first six appearances of his major league career. Teheran made his major league debut at Citizens Bank Park on May 7, 2011, allowing three runs in 4 2/3 innings including a Ryan Howard home run.
Miscellaneous: The Braves swept three in Philadelphia about a week ago during their 14-game win streak, with wins over Martin, Lannan and Cliff Lee. They lead the season series with Philadelphia 6-3, having won each of the three series the two teams have played.
About the Phillies:
Batting: Darin Ruf hit home runs in three of the Phillies' previous five games entering Sunday. The 27-year old was hitting .289 with six home runs and 11 RBIs in 28 games since being called up from Triple-A when Ryan Howard went on the DL in early July headed for knee surgery. Redan High School grad Domonic Brown was 6-for-19 (.316) with two homers and six RBIs in his previous five games entering Sunday.
Pitching: The Phillies haven't won a game started by Hamels or Lee since July 14 when Hamels defeated the White Sox, allowing two runs in eight innings. The Phillies are 0-8 in the past four starts each from Lee and Hamels since. That's due in large part to the Phillies bullpen, which has the worst ERA in the National League at 4.33 while going 15-21 with 13 blown saves. Hamels has allowed only four earned runs in 22 innings (1.64 ERA) over his past three starts.
Miscellaneous: The Phillies had lost 10 consecutive road games entering Sunday's series finale in Washington. Since the Braves last saw the Phillies, veteran second baseman Chase Utley signed a two-year $27 million contract extension that could go up in value to five years $75 million with incentive clauses.
- Carroll Rogers
