Preview: Phillies at Braves
GAME: Philadelphia Phillies (46-57) at Atlanta Braves (35-66)
DATE/TIME: Thursday, July 28 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Turner Field, Atlanta, Georgia
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
The Philadelphia Phillies hope to rediscover their offensive touch Thursday as they continue their 10-game road trip with the opener of a four-game series against the Atlanta Braves. Philadelphia has scored a total of one run in its last two contests and fell to 2-4 on its trek with Wednesday's 11-1 setback against Miami.
The top of the Phillies' batting order - Cesar Hernandez, Odubel Herrera and Maikel Franco - collected seven of the team's 10 hits in the loss, with Hernandez extending his hitting streak to five games with his second three-hit performance in that span. Atlanta returns home from a 3-6 road trip that concluded with a two-game sweep in Minnesota. The Braves (35-66), who own the worst record in the major leagues, received a stellar performance at the plate from Freddie Freeman as the first baseman tied career highs with four hits and five RBIs. It marked the fifth time Freeman drove in five runs and first since Sept. 23 against the Mets in New York.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CSN Philadelphia, FSN Southeast (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Aaron Nola (5-9, 4.75 ERA) vs. Braves RH Matt Wisler (4-10, 4.92)
Nola lost his fifth consecutive decision on Saturday after surrendering six runs and six hits in four innings at Pittsburgh. The 23-year-old native of Louisiana, who hasn't won since tossing six scoreless frames against Milwaukee on June 5, has yielded at least five runs in five of his last six outings. Nola was tagged for five runs - two earned - and seven hits over seven frames in a loss to Atlanta on May 20, falling to 2-1 with a 1.73 ERA in four career starts versus the Braves.
Wisler is coming off a string of three straight road starts during which he went 1-2 after yielding six runs in each outing. The 23-year-old from Ohio has not fared well at home, going 1-6 with a 4.33 ERA in 11 turns at Turner Field. Wisler is 1-2 with a 5.12 ERA in three career starts against the Phillies, splitting his two outings versus them this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Phillies are 6-3 against the Braves this season, including a three-game sweep at home earlier this month.
2. Atlanta landed a power-hitting prospect Wednesday, acquiring INF Travis Demeritte from Texas for RHP Lucas Harrell and LHP Dario Alvarez.
3. Philadelphia is expected to activate OF Aaron Altherr, who has been on the disabled list since March with a torn tendon in his left wrist.
PREDICTION: Phillies 6, Braves 3
