Regain the Ground — Series Preview: Braves at Phillies, August 28-31

While still holding a four-game lead in the National League East, the series in Queens was a week to forget as the Phillies were swept at Citi Field for the second time this season, resulting in them losing their last 10 in Queens.

The sweep was a result of the energy the New York Mets brought to the table, an energy the Phillies did not feel they could match.

With that being said, the Phillies return home to what will be an impatient and rowdy Philadelphia fan base as they host another rival in the Atlanta Braves, who, even though they aren’t having a fortunate season, still manage to give the Phillies a hard time.

Been a Minute

With another series coming up against the Mets, and two out of three recent series being played against the Washington Nationals, the Phillies have not played Atlanta since June 29th, when they took two of three games at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. The series win was a very promising series for Philadelphia, as they collected 13 runs in a shutout victory to start the series. Though a tough loss in game two, the Phillies bounced back and took game three as they took down Spencer Strider that afternoon in a 2-1 victory.

Since late June, the story of the Braves has not changed much, as they find themselves with a 61-72 record heading into the four-game series in Philadelphia. Their season skid continuing may be the result of a similar look the entire year until now, meaning the Phillies have seen these guys a countless number of times.

Sharpen the Pitching

With Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez, Cristopher Sanchez, and Jesus Luzardo scheduled to start these four games, this looks to be a list of possible starters for the postseason. The season continues to wind down, meaning these starters need to take shape to prepare for October baseball. Against a lineup they have each faced recently, these four pitchers should be ready for whatever comes their way. If the Phillies’ starting staff can extremely limit guys like Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, Michael Harris II, and Austin Riley, they will find themselves in a great spot similar to the place they were in before New York.

Not only does the starting staff need to improve, but the bullpen needs to show massive strides of growth after a disappointing set of series. Jhoan Duran and Orion Kerkering need to get their confidence back after recent struggles. If the bullpen can fix their relievers the Phillies rely on heavily, they too will be in a comfortable place.

Realign the Bats

Whether it was a shiny microphone, a haunted stadium to play in, or a common slump from the lineup, the performance in New York was more than disappointing, and cannot be carried by the team. Guys like Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, who is 0 for his last 20, J.T. Realmuto, Nick Castellanos, and Max Kepler went down without a fight in the series against the Mets, after a time where hitting looked to be natural in the series sweep against the Seattle Mariners.

The Phillies do not have all the time in the world to shape this lineup, which makes the series in New York hurt them even more than in the standings. A struggling pitching staff for the Braves acts as a perfect opportunity to not only regain that lost ground but also to bring back the spark in the lineup. The struggling staff of the Braves means there is no excuse to struggle like they have, especially against the home crowd. This series is a must-have for the offense.

Game Times and Broadcasts

Thursday, August 28th, 6:45 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Philadelphia, 94.1 WIP, WTTM 1680

Friday, August 29th, 6:45 p.m. ET, Apple TV+, 94.1 WIP, WTTM 1680

Saturday, August 30th, 6:45 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Philadelphia, 94.1 WIP, WTTM 1680

Sunday, August 31st, 7:10 p.m. ET, ESPN, 94.1 WIP, WTTM 1680

Probable Pitching Matchups

Game 1: Aaron Nola (RHP, 2-7, 6.52 ERA) vs. Cal Quantrill (RHP, 4-11, 5.51 ERA)

Game 2: Ranger Suarez (LHP, 10-6, 3.07 ERA) vs. Bryce Elder (RHP, 5-9, 6.12 ERA)

Game 3: Cristopher Sanchez (LHP, 11-5, 2.66 ERA) vs. TBD

Game 4: Jesus Luzardo (LHP, 12-6, 4.23 ERA) vs. Hurston Waldrep (LHP, 4-0, 0.90 ERA)

By The Numbers

• Records
  • Phillies: 76-57
  • Braves: 61-72
• Run Differential
  • Phillies: 86
  • Braves: -2
• Runs Scored Per Game
  • Phillies: 4.73
  • Braves: 4.41
• Runs Allowed Per Game
  • Phillies: 3.98
  • Braves: 4.51

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