Phillies at Braves
Two teams looking to take a step forward in their rebuilds and begin climbing in the National League East open the 2018 season Thursday when the Philadelphia Phillies visit the Atlanta Braves to start a three-game series. The Phillies were active in the offseason, bringing in pitcher Jake Arrieta and first baseman Carlos Santana to bolster an emerging young core, and made news Sunday by locking up rookie Scott Kingery to a six-year deal before his major-league debut.
The 23-year-old Kingery, who slugged 26 homers with 29 stolen bases in 132 minor-league games a season ago, hit .418 in spring training. Atlanta also has a marquee prospect in Ronald Acuna Jr., who will begin the season in the minor leagues but is expected to reach the majors quickly after hitting .432 with four homers and four stolen bases in just 44 spring-training at-bats. The Braves, who have lost 90 games or more each of the past three seasons, seem content to let their young players prove themselves this season as new general manager Alex Anthopoulos enters his first season at the helm. First baseman Freddie Freeman, who missed significant time with a wrist injury last season and actually played 16 games at third base upon his return, hit .319 in spring training and could emerge as a darkhorse MVP candidate.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, FSN Southeast (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Aaron Nola (2017: 12-11, 3.54 ERA) vs. Braves RH Julio Teheran (2017: 11-13, 4.49)
The 24-year-old Nola took a step forward in his second full season in the Phillies rotation in 2017, doubling his win total while lowering his ERA in 27 starts and posting a 1.21 WHIP. Nola pitched well in spring training, finishing with a 3.50 ERA in five starts with a 6:1 strikeouts-to-walks ratio (18 strikeouts, three walks in 18 innings). Nola beat Atlanta in both of his starts last season, posting a 1.20 ERA with one walk and 12 strikeouts in 15 innings.
Teheran struggled mightily in his first season in Atlanta’s new SunTrust Park in 2017, going 3-10 with a 5.86 ERA with 17 homers allowed in 93 2/3 innings. The 27-year-old was much better on the road (8-3, 3.14 ERA in 15 starts) and showed a new-found confidence in his slider in spring training, posting a 1.40 ERA in six starts with 19 hits allowed in 25 2/3 innings. Teheran went 1-2 with a 5.79 ERA in four starts against Philadelphia a season ago, striking out 24 in 23 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Phillies won just 66 games a season ago but dominated the series against Atlanta, beating the Braves 13 times in 19 matchups.
2. Atlanta faces a daunting early-season schedule, as the Braves will play four consecutive series against 2017 playoff teams following the series with Philadelphia.
3. New Phillies manager Gabe Kapler is expected to hit Santana - who posted an OPS of .752 or higher in each of his first eight seasons - second in the lineup.