TURNER FIELD
GAME 1 TUESDAY 6/30 AT 7:00PM
PHILLIES: Blanton made one mistake on Wednesday in a 7-1 loss to the Rays at Tropicana Field — he threw a fastball over the middle of the plate that former Phillies left fielder Pat Burrell hit for a two-run home run. It would be the only runs Blanton would allow in seven innings against the Rays. He surrendered just six hits, two runs and two walks. He also struck out 10. In his past six starts, Blanton is 2-1 with a 2.75 ERA, having allowed 12 earned runs in 39 1/3 innings. With other Phillies starters struggling, the club need Blanton more than ever.
BRAVES: Before last Thursday, Lowe had not faced the Yankees since 2004, when he was pitching for the Red Sox. After his trying outing last Thursday, he probably doesn’t want to see them for another five years. Lowe was pounded to the tune of 11 hits and six earned runs in just three innings. The outing is starting to signal a troubling trend for the big right-hander, as he has now been hit hard in two of his past three starts. He gave up seven earned runs in 2 1/3 innings on June 14 in Baltimore. With Kenshin Kawakami unable to make his Tuesday start due to a neck contusion, Lowe will on regular rest following the Braves’ off-day on Monday.
GAME 2 WEDNESDAY 7/1 AT 7:00PM
PHILLIES: Hamels did not fare well against the Blue Jays in his last outing. The left-hander exhausted 105 pitches in the start, lasting just 4 2/3 innings. He took the loss and surrendered four runs on eight hits. When Hamels was removed from the game by manager Charlie Manuel during the fifth inning, he let his emotions show by arguing with the the home-plate umpire, resulting in an ejection. In 12 career starts against the Braves, Hamels is 7-3 with a 3.42 ERA.
BRAVES: As June drags on, Jurrjens’ luck shows no signs of improving. The Curacao native took the loss against the Red Sox on Friday, despite going eight innings and allowing just three earned runs on seven hits. Jurrjens remains winless in June, despite allowing just 12 earned runs in 29 1/3 innings this month. The 23-year-old will try to end his winless streak against a Phillies team that he threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings against on April 7.
GAME 3 THURSDAY 7/2 AT 7:00PM
PHILLIES: The Phillies have yet to announce a starter for Thursday’s series finale in Atlanta, but all signs point to it being Carlos Carrasco. Carrasco hasn’t exactly impressed in AAA Lehigh Valley this year going 4-7 with a 4.92 ERA in 15 starts. Carrasco has recently been bumped from being the Phillies top pitching prospect by Kyle Drabek. Carrasco has great stuff but only time will tell if he makes it all work.
BRAVES: On a 94-degree Saturday afternoon, Vazquez threw 120 pitches over 7 2/3 innings and allowed just one run. However, the Puerto Rico native once again fell victim to a punchless Braves offense, taking the loss. Over his past six starts, Vazquez has a 1.90 ERA and a 1-3 record. The only damage came on an RBI single by Mark Kotsay that scored Kevin Youkilis. Vazquez hasn’t pitched against the Nationals since 2005, but spent the first six seasons of his career in the Expos/Nationals organization.
MY TAKE:
Coming off a nice series win in Toronto I would love to say the Phils will roll into Atlanta and take the series, but I don’t know if I’m ready to say the Phils have shook their slump. The Braves are offensively anemic but have some good pitching that could prove to seal the Phils’ fate in this series. All three pitchers the Braves are throwing out there are righties. Righties we haven’t had much success against. They say good pitching beats good hitting, let’s just hope that isn’t the case in this series. Go Phils.
Scouting Reports l MLB.com
30 Comments on “Series Preview: Phillies at Braves”
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General
June 29th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
I didn’t get a chance to make a formal announcement yet, but please welcome Chris & Tug Haines from Long Drive to the stable of writers here at The Fightins dot com!
June 29th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
Welcome a broad, guys.
June 29th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Very excited to be contributing.
June 29th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
AWESOME IN-DEPTH PREVIEWS ON THE FIGHTINS?!?!
life is complete. fuck the mets.
June 29th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Good preview of the series, I’m going to go out on a limb, and say that the PHILS bats, which awoke with a thunder against the JAYS in game two, but quieted a little in game three, are going to somehow tear it up against the BRAVES pitching staff, and win the series with two wins.
Derek Lowe should be a win. Jurjenns should be a win. But Vasquez with the gawdy number of Strikeouts he brings, combined with our swing-happy lineup don’t bode well for game three. Not to mention, the still yet to be named starter for said game.
…as for the METS, I expect them to be swept by the BREW-CREW, and in third place by the time we’re out of Hotlanta, and back to Philly.
June 29th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
Broads? Does HDYSR? have something to do with this?
June 29th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Two games does not a slump break.
But that doesn’t mean it isn’t broken. Charlie’s heart-to-heart plus intraleague play plus a little momentum should help grease the wheels. And with the Mets on a downswing we could mend the damage done during the past 2 weeks quickly.
ASG break will still help these fellas.
June 29th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
@Chris, nice avatar.
Trailerpark Boys are very underrated.
June 29th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
@PhiPhan5648 I thought no one would know what it is. I LOVE that show.
June 29th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
@Chris, it’s a great show, very funny. The Movie was pretty decent too, one of the few Show-to-Movies that was actually good.
June 29th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
@PhilPhan5648 Um, excuse me? Haven’t you heard of a little movie called “Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas”?
June 29th, 2009 at 11:24 pm
@Dash Touche…
June 29th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
@Dash, actually… no, I haven’t.
June 30th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Meech, did you ever get your prize pack for winning Stump the Fans? I finally out-typed everyone the other night, and was wondering what excellent Phillies swag may be heading my way.
June 30th, 2009 at 12:19 am
I didn’t get SHIT yet, Lynniemac. Damn slackers over there.
June 30th, 2009 at 12:23 am
@meech, be sure to share the glory that is the “Prize-Pack” with us in an article when you get it.
June 30th, 2009 at 7:32 am
what should be added to this preview is the fact the phillies swept the braves at turner field in every series last year. let’s keep that streak alive.
June 30th, 2009 at 7:54 am
so by writer, you mean he copies the MLB.com Pitching Preview section?
June 30th, 2009 at 8:11 am
I hate those fags. how bout a sweep one time.
June 30th, 2009 at 8:48 am
I was thinking the same thing, Mark. That’s a good streak to continue.
oh, and Colbert Hamels, haha.
June 30th, 2009 at 9:38 am
Completely forgot to mention their record there last year. Had it on my mind while typing then just forgot. Also, as you guys said, Cole dominates the Braves. The only reason his ERA is even above 3 is because of the one bad outing he had at CBP against them. Really the game I’d be most worried about is the one Carrasco is apparently srtarting.
June 30th, 2009 at 10:06 am
I have a sneaky suspicion that Carpenter is going to end up starting the 3rd game of the series. Carrasco wasn’t exactly lighting it up in Spring Training and has held that form at AAA. He can’t get the start on potential alone.
Aside from that, Blanton has been very solid his past couple turns. Colberto has been sort of an every other start kind of guy this year, and Wednesday should be due for an “every” rather than an “other.”
I think the boys are primed for at least 2 of 3. They sucked a D in interleague last year and then came out with a little thunder. Frankly, we’re in better shape, considering the Met-debacle, than we were post-interleague last year.
June 30th, 2009 at 10:12 am
I’m thinking maybe a pitcher from the Royals might get the start. Arbuckle has been seen at a few games recently, and he’s probably more likely to take guys that aren’t Donald and Marson, since he knows the farm system so well. Maybe Gil Meche?
June 30th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
@Watrick, as long as I don’t hear people spreading rumors of Greinke, no problem. I have a buddy who constantly spreads rumors, that the PHILS are going to sign him.
As far as Carasco, I think we owe the kid a chance to start a game, as well as Carpenter pitched when he was up here, I’d like to see what the onetime savior, might due if given a chance. Who knows, maybe if he’s given a shot, he shines and we find ourselves with a good Starter for that fifth spot.
June 30th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Whomever it is, I hope they do well, but I want a proven starter, and not some bandaid that might wear off after a start or two.
June 30th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
@Watrick, agreed. The PHILS need a solid starter, not a guy to “fill in” for a while. Tell you what, if they would sign Greinke, I don’t think I’d complain too much though.
June 30th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
I’m down at UGA for grad school and will be going to the game on Wednesday night. I feel pretty confident that Philly fans are going to outnumber Braves fans easily. I’m going to do my best to start as many, “Let’s go Phillies!”, chants as I can.
June 30th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Word now per Todd Zolecki is that Happ will start on Thursday in Atlanta and either Carrasco, Carpenter, or Rodrigo Lopez will start Friday or Saturday against the Mutts.
June 30th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
I’d rather have Happ pitch against the Mets than the Braves. It’s seems weird to think that Happ may be our most reliable pitcher right now.
June 30th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
@Gonzo, it’s not that wierd to me. If you listen to Ricky Bo after every game, he’ll tell you just how amazing J.A. Happ is. And what Ricky Bo says, I believe. LOL!