Sunday Night Baseball: Braves at Phillies
Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies
The teams are the same. Only the site changes, when the Phillies host the Braves Sunday night on ESPN for the second straight week.
Philadelphia sends Joe Blanton (8-6 3.88 ERA) to the hill against Jair Jurrjens (10-8 2.91 ERA) in a matchup of steady right-handers.
Off the Lidge
Phillies closer Brad Lidge has suffered through some tough times this season.
The All-Star closer leads the majors with nine blown saves, only three shy of tying Philadelphia's single-season record set by Mark Leiter in 1998. He threw a perfect inning against the Braves for his 26th save Friday. Lidge is 0-6 with a 7.17 ERA, worst among major league relievers with at least 30 innings pitched.
“I feel like I'm getting close. It's been a couple steps forward, a step back, a couple steps forward, another step back. The consistency hasn't been there. I feel good and healthy, and (fortunately) we're in first place," Lidge told the media.
"We signed Lidge to a three-year deal to be our closer," manager Charlie Manuel told reporters. "We had confidence in him, and he had confidence in us. Just because you don't do good today doesn't mean you won't do good tomorrow in baseball. Part of staying after it is you have to have confidence. I have confidence in all our players."
Quality road
43-3. That is the Braves' record when they get both a quality start from the rotation and score four or more runs in games played through August 23.
On the flip side, Phillies LHP Cliff Lee leads the majors in quality starts (23) this season.
Brave hearts
Thanks to a patchwork lineup, Atlanta’s fortunes have taken a tumble.
Injuries to center fielder Nate McLouth and infielder Martin Prado are beginning to take their toll.
The Braves' offense came to life when McLouth was installed as the leadoff hitter and Prado won the starting job at second base. Without their presence in the lineup, Atlanta has slipped back in the pack.
Prado came back for the Padres series after being absent with severe headaches, but McLouth, on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring, will not be activated until Monday at the earliest.
With outfielder Ryan Church and left fielder Garret Anderson in and out of the lineup with lower back ailments, the bench has become thin. Church was back in the starting lineup Friday against RHP Pedro Martinez. Church was removed in a double-switch in Friday's game because of the bad back.
Where’s the beef
Blanton has pitched well lately. Since giving up four runs against Toronto back on June 18, he hasn't allowed more than three runs in a start since then while compiling a solid 2.83 ERA in 11 starts during that span.
Like Blanton, Jurrjens has been pitching well with little support. He allowed just one run on five hits in 7.6 innings of work against the Padres Tuesday.
The fact of the matter is Jurrjens has followed up his breakthrough rookie season with an even better sophomore campaign, sporting a 2.91 ERA this season.
Sunday tendencies
The Braves 2-5 are away, while the Phillies are 14-4 at home.
Jurrjens has lost two straight on the day of rest while Blanton is 15-4 his last 19 team starts on Sundays, including 7-0 his last seven and 6-0 his last six home.
Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies
The teams are the same. Only the site changes, when the Phillies host the Braves Sunday night on ESPN for the second straight week.
Philadelphia sends Joe Blanton (8-6 3.88 ERA) to the hill against Jair Jurrjens (10-8 2.91 ERA) in a matchup of steady right-handers.
Off the Lidge
Phillies closer Brad Lidge has suffered through some tough times this season.
The All-Star closer leads the majors with nine blown saves, only three shy of tying Philadelphia's single-season record set by Mark Leiter in 1998. He threw a perfect inning against the Braves for his 26th save Friday. Lidge is 0-6 with a 7.17 ERA, worst among major league relievers with at least 30 innings pitched.
“I feel like I'm getting close. It's been a couple steps forward, a step back, a couple steps forward, another step back. The consistency hasn't been there. I feel good and healthy, and (fortunately) we're in first place," Lidge told the media.
"We signed Lidge to a three-year deal to be our closer," manager Charlie Manuel told reporters. "We had confidence in him, and he had confidence in us. Just because you don't do good today doesn't mean you won't do good tomorrow in baseball. Part of staying after it is you have to have confidence. I have confidence in all our players."
Quality road
43-3. That is the Braves' record when they get both a quality start from the rotation and score four or more runs in games played through August 23.
On the flip side, Phillies LHP Cliff Lee leads the majors in quality starts (23) this season.
Brave hearts
Thanks to a patchwork lineup, Atlanta’s fortunes have taken a tumble.
Injuries to center fielder Nate McLouth and infielder Martin Prado are beginning to take their toll.
The Braves' offense came to life when McLouth was installed as the leadoff hitter and Prado won the starting job at second base. Without their presence in the lineup, Atlanta has slipped back in the pack.
Prado came back for the Padres series after being absent with severe headaches, but McLouth, on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring, will not be activated until Monday at the earliest.
With outfielder Ryan Church and left fielder Garret Anderson in and out of the lineup with lower back ailments, the bench has become thin. Church was back in the starting lineup Friday against RHP Pedro Martinez. Church was removed in a double-switch in Friday's game because of the bad back.
Where’s the beef
Blanton has pitched well lately. Since giving up four runs against Toronto back on June 18, he hasn't allowed more than three runs in a start since then while compiling a solid 2.83 ERA in 11 starts during that span.
Like Blanton, Jurrjens has been pitching well with little support. He allowed just one run on five hits in 7.6 innings of work against the Padres Tuesday.
The fact of the matter is Jurrjens has followed up his breakthrough rookie season with an even better sophomore campaign, sporting a 2.91 ERA this season.
Sunday tendencies
The Braves 2-5 are away, while the Phillies are 14-4 at home.
Jurrjens has lost two straight on the day of rest while Blanton is 15-4 his last 19 team starts on Sundays, including 7-0 his last seven and 6-0 his last six home.
