Braves at Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies' early-season feel-good story has been written primarily at the expense of the other National League East representatives. With an impressive 13-8 mark versus their division foes, the Phillies vie for their ninth win in 12 outings overall on Friday when they open a three-game series versus the visiting Atlanta Braves.
Philadelphia claimed two of three from Atlanta last week and continued its good fortune by doing the same against Miami for the second time this month before enjoying a rare day off on Thursday. "I'm very impressed," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said of the turnaround from last season's 99-loss finish. "These guys have great makeup. They pull for one another. It's a real team." Atlanta hardly resembles that remark this season, as the beleaguered club dropped 11 of its last 14 to make itself comfortable in the bottom of the division. Former Phillie Jeff Francouer belted his second homer in four contests in the Braves' 8-2 setback to Pittsburgh on Thursday, but went 1-for-6 in the previous series versus Philadelphia.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSSO (Atlanta), CSN Philadelphia
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Matt Wisler (1-3, 3.14 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Aaron Nola (3-2, 2.89)
Wisler will get his second look in 10 days versus Philadelphia, against which he allowed three runs on eight hits in as many innings to take the hard-luck 3-2 loss in the initial outing. The 23-year-old was essentially done in by Maikel Franco, who went 3-for-4 with a homer in that contest. Wisler rebounded with another strong effort at Kansas City five days later, permitting two runs and striking out seven without walking a batter in 7 1/3 innings of a no-decision.
Nola improved to 3-0 in his last five starts on Saturday after allowing one earned run on five hits and striking out a season high-tying nine batters in a 4-3 win over Cincinnati. The seventh overall pick of the 2014 draft, Nola kept the ball in the park for the fifth straight outing after surrendering a blast in each of his previous three. Nola owns a 2-0 career mark and has permitted three runs in 19 innings in three starts versus Atlanta.
WALK-OFFS
1. Philadelphia rookie LF Tyler Goeddel is 10-for-21 (.476) in his last six games to raise his average from .159 to .262.
2. Braves 1B Freddie Freeman went 6-for-12 with four runs scored last week versus the Phillies.
3. Philadelphia is a woeful 16-for-32 in stolen base attempts, marking the worst success rate in the majors.