<img alt="Miami Marlins v Philadelphia Phillies" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kpWaC1Cd0Qob-PkIDCj9AiGqO5k=/0x0:3413x2275/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73531529/2166826301.0.jpg">
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
The Braves will face the Phillies seven times over the next two weeks. After a much-needed day off Monday, the Atlanta Braves will return to Truist Park where they will begin a six-game homestand with a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies. This will be the first of seven matchups between the two teams over the next two weeks. Atlanta leads the season series 4-2.
While the Braves may have owned the head-to-head matchups, the Phillies have maintained a comfortable lead in the NL East standings. Atlanta will begin the series seven games behind Philadelphia. The Phillies began the season 55-29 but are just 18-21 since the start of July. Atlanta hasn’t been able to take advantage of that, though, as they are just 20-22 over that same span. The Braves took a three-game series at home against the Phillies from July 5-7, after which they were eight games back; they’ve only gained another game in the six weeks since.
The Braves have battled injuries throughout the season and will go into Tuesday’s opener with even more questions on that front. Jorge Soler has missed the last four games while dealing with a mild hamstring strain. Atlanta is hoping that he will be ready to return on Tuesday, but that is still an open question at this point. Additionally, Travis d’Arnaud was hit in the wrist by a pitch in Saturday’s game. Brian Snitker said on Sunday that d’Arnaud was still pretty sore.
One player that won’t be available for the Braves is third baseman Austin Riley. Riley was hit with a pitch in the first inning of Sunday’s game against the Angels. An MRI exam Monday revealed a fracture and Riley is expected to be out six to eight weeks.
The Phillies had a four-game winning streak snapped on Sunday with a loss in Washington. They are 8-8 in August. Philadelphia is healthy again, for the most part, with J.T. Realmuto back behind the plate. Austin Hays, who was acquired at the Trade Deadline, is currently on the Injured List and working his way back from a strained hamstring. Ranger Suarez is also on the IL with a back issue, but is close to a return.
Tuesday, August 20, 7:20 p.m. ET (Bally Sports South)
Reynaldo Lopez (19 GS, 104.2 IP, 23.9 K%, 8.7 BB%, 2.06 ERA, 3.18 FIP)
Brian Snitker confirmed Sunday that Reynaldo Lopez will come off the Injured List and start Tuesday’s series opener against the Phillies. Lopez’ last start came on July 28 in New York where he exited after just three innings due to soreness in his right forearm. Tests came back negative, but the Braves put him on the Injured List to give him a time to recover. The break may have been needed as Lopez is approaching his innings total for the last two seasons combined. He faced the Phillies back on July 7 and pitched well, tossing six scoreless frames to go along with six strikeouts.
Zack Wheeler (24 GS, 148.2 IP, 27.5 K%, 7.3 BB%, 2.72 ERA, 3.42 FIP)
Right-hander Zack Wheeler will start opposite of Lopez in the opener. Wheeler has been a workhorse again for the Phillies, having logged just under 150 innings across 24 starts. He was charged with one earned run and struck out six in his last start against the Nationals. He has been charged with just three earned runs combined over his last three starts (20 innings). Wheeler faced the Braves back on March 29 and struck out five while throwing six scoreless innings.
Wednesday, August 21, 7:20 p.m. ET (Bally Sports South)
Max Fried (21 GS, 121.2 IP, 22.6 K%, 8.8 BB%, 3.62 ERA, 3.56 FIP)
Max Fried will get the call for the Braves on Wednesday and is looking to get back on track after a series of tough outings. Fried went on the Injured List in mid-July due to neuritis in his left forearm. He returned in August but has gotten poor results in three starts since, getting charged with 12 earned runs 13 2/3 innings. That said, his FIP and xFIP are only somewhat higher than what he was managing prior to the injury; the issue is more that somehow opposing teams have strung together a .417 BABIP off of him across those three starts.
Fried has faced the Phillies twice this season and hasn’t pitched well in either start. Fried failed to make it out of the first inning in his first start of the season where he allowed three runs and retired just two batters. He faced them again on July 5 and allowed 11 hits and five runs in six innings at Truist Park, which involved a bizarre decision to let him continue to the fourth time through the order after already struggling in the game.
Aaron Nola (25 GS, 154.0 IP, 22.7 K%, 6.2 BB%, 3.45 ERA, 4.00 FIP)
The Phillies will go with veteran righty Aaron Nola in a good pitching matchup for Wednesday’s game. Like Wheeler, Nola has been a workhorse for Philadelphia at the top of the rotation. He allowed seven hits but no runs over 6 2/3 innings in his last start against the Nationals. The Braves hit him hard in his first start of the season, battering him for 11 hits and six earned in 4 1/3 innings, which was the game that Max Fried left early. He faced them again on July 5 and allowed three runs over six innings to go along with eight strikeouts in the Phillies’ only win in that series, which was also the game that Max Fried started and struggled in.
The Braves are 1-1 in Fried/Nola matchups this season and 3-2 all-time when these two guys go head-to-head.
Thursday, August 22, 7:15 p.m. ET (FOX)
Spencer Schwellenbach (13 GS, 75.2 IP, 27.5 K%, 4.5 BB%, 4.04 ERA, 3.40 FIP)
Monday’s off day would have allowed the Braves to bring back Chris Sale for Thursday’s start on regular rest. However, they opted to stick with their current order and go with rookie Spencer Schwellenbach in the series finale. Schwellenbach made the jump from Double-A to the majors at the end of May and had an up and down start to his season. He’s settled in nicely of late, though, and has a 2.86 ERA and a 2.72 FIP over his last seven starts since the beginning of July. Schwellenbach faced the Phillies on July 6 and held them in check by striking out six while getting charged with one run over six innings.
TBD
The Phillies haven’t announced their starter for Thursday’s game. Left-hander Christopher Sanchez would be lined up to start on regular rest. If it isn’t Sanchez, then they will likely need to make a roster move to add another starter.
Sanchez has been incredible this year, and really going back to last year — he has 5.8 fWAR in about 240 innings over the last two seasons, with an 81/77/76 line (ERA-/FIP-/xFIP-). He looked a bit like he was wearing down in July (just a 12/6 K/BB ratio through his first four starts of the month), but has bounced back with a much better 17/4 K/BB ratio in four starts since. It would be a substantial boost to the Braves’ fortunes if the Phillies give Sanchez extra rest rather than starting him in this game, especially given the Braves’ decision not to use Sale in this series.
<img alt="Miami Marlins v Philadelphia Phillies" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kpWaC1Cd0Qob-PkIDCj9AiGqO5k=/0x0:3413x2275/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73531529/2166826301.0.jpg">
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
The Braves will face the Phillies seven times over the next two weeks. After a much-needed day off Monday, the Atlanta Braves will return to Truist Park where they will begin a six-game homestand with a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies. This will be the first of seven matchups between the two teams over the next two weeks. Atlanta leads the season series 4-2.
While the Braves may have owned the head-to-head matchups, the Phillies have maintained a comfortable lead in the NL East standings. Atlanta will begin the series seven games behind Philadelphia. The Phillies began the season 55-29 but are just 18-21 since the start of July. Atlanta hasn’t been able to take advantage of that, though, as they are just 20-22 over that same span. The Braves took a three-game series at home against the Phillies from July 5-7, after which they were eight games back; they’ve only gained another game in the six weeks since.
The Braves have battled injuries throughout the season and will go into Tuesday’s opener with even more questions on that front. Jorge Soler has missed the last four games while dealing with a mild hamstring strain. Atlanta is hoping that he will be ready to return on Tuesday, but that is still an open question at this point. Additionally, Travis d’Arnaud was hit in the wrist by a pitch in Saturday’s game. Brian Snitker said on Sunday that d’Arnaud was still pretty sore.
One player that won’t be available for the Braves is third baseman Austin Riley. Riley was hit with a pitch in the first inning of Sunday’s game against the Angels. An MRI exam Monday revealed a fracture and Riley is expected to be out six to eight weeks.
The Phillies had a four-game winning streak snapped on Sunday with a loss in Washington. They are 8-8 in August. Philadelphia is healthy again, for the most part, with J.T. Realmuto back behind the plate. Austin Hays, who was acquired at the Trade Deadline, is currently on the Injured List and working his way back from a strained hamstring. Ranger Suarez is also on the IL with a back issue, but is close to a return.
Tuesday, August 20, 7:20 p.m. ET (Bally Sports South)
Reynaldo Lopez (19 GS, 104.2 IP, 23.9 K%, 8.7 BB%, 2.06 ERA, 3.18 FIP)
Brian Snitker confirmed Sunday that Reynaldo Lopez will come off the Injured List and start Tuesday’s series opener against the Phillies. Lopez’ last start came on July 28 in New York where he exited after just three innings due to soreness in his right forearm. Tests came back negative, but the Braves put him on the Injured List to give him a time to recover. The break may have been needed as Lopez is approaching his innings total for the last two seasons combined. He faced the Phillies back on July 7 and pitched well, tossing six scoreless frames to go along with six strikeouts.
Zack Wheeler (24 GS, 148.2 IP, 27.5 K%, 7.3 BB%, 2.72 ERA, 3.42 FIP)
Right-hander Zack Wheeler will start opposite of Lopez in the opener. Wheeler has been a workhorse again for the Phillies, having logged just under 150 innings across 24 starts. He was charged with one earned run and struck out six in his last start against the Nationals. He has been charged with just three earned runs combined over his last three starts (20 innings). Wheeler faced the Braves back on March 29 and struck out five while throwing six scoreless innings.
Wednesday, August 21, 7:20 p.m. ET (Bally Sports South)
Max Fried (21 GS, 121.2 IP, 22.6 K%, 8.8 BB%, 3.62 ERA, 3.56 FIP)
Max Fried will get the call for the Braves on Wednesday and is looking to get back on track after a series of tough outings. Fried went on the Injured List in mid-July due to neuritis in his left forearm. He returned in August but has gotten poor results in three starts since, getting charged with 12 earned runs 13 2/3 innings. That said, his FIP and xFIP are only somewhat higher than what he was managing prior to the injury; the issue is more that somehow opposing teams have strung together a .417 BABIP off of him across those three starts.
Fried has faced the Phillies twice this season and hasn’t pitched well in either start. Fried failed to make it out of the first inning in his first start of the season where he allowed three runs and retired just two batters. He faced them again on July 5 and allowed 11 hits and five runs in six innings at Truist Park, which involved a bizarre decision to let him continue to the fourth time through the order after already struggling in the game.
Aaron Nola (25 GS, 154.0 IP, 22.7 K%, 6.2 BB%, 3.45 ERA, 4.00 FIP)
The Phillies will go with veteran righty Aaron Nola in a good pitching matchup for Wednesday’s game. Like Wheeler, Nola has been a workhorse for Philadelphia at the top of the rotation. He allowed seven hits but no runs over 6 2/3 innings in his last start against the Nationals. The Braves hit him hard in his first start of the season, battering him for 11 hits and six earned in 4 1/3 innings, which was the game that Max Fried left early. He faced them again on July 5 and allowed three runs over six innings to go along with eight strikeouts in the Phillies’ only win in that series, which was also the game that Max Fried started and struggled in.
The Braves are 1-1 in Fried/Nola matchups this season and 3-2 all-time when these two guys go head-to-head.
Thursday, August 22, 7:15 p.m. ET (FOX)
Spencer Schwellenbach (13 GS, 75.2 IP, 27.5 K%, 4.5 BB%, 4.04 ERA, 3.40 FIP)
Monday’s off day would have allowed the Braves to bring back Chris Sale for Thursday’s start on regular rest. However, they opted to stick with their current order and go with rookie Spencer Schwellenbach in the series finale. Schwellenbach made the jump from Double-A to the majors at the end of May and had an up and down start to his season. He’s settled in nicely of late, though, and has a 2.86 ERA and a 2.72 FIP over his last seven starts since the beginning of July. Schwellenbach faced the Phillies on July 6 and held them in check by striking out six while getting charged with one run over six innings.
TBD
The Phillies haven’t announced their starter for Thursday’s game. Left-hander Christopher Sanchez would be lined up to start on regular rest. If it isn’t Sanchez, then they will likely need to make a roster move to add another starter.
Sanchez has been incredible this year, and really going back to last year — he has 5.8 fWAR in about 240 innings over the last two seasons, with an 81/77/76 line (ERA-/FIP-/xFIP-). He looked a bit like he was wearing down in July (just a 12/6 K/BB ratio through his first four starts of the month), but has bounced back with a much better 17/4 K/BB ratio in four starts since. It would be a substantial boost to the Braves’ fortunes if the Phillies give Sanchez extra rest rather than starting him in this game, especially given the Braves’ decision not to use Sale in this series.
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