Game Preview: Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies (Game 1)

Monday, September 20 – 7:05 (SportSouth)
Atlanta Braves (86-64) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (89-61)

Brandon Beachy
(AA-AAA: 35 G, 13 GS, 1.73 ERA, 28 BB, 148 K)
vs.
Cole Hamels
(3.01 ERA, 3.38 xFIP, 2.59 BB/9, 9.29 K/9, 11.9 SwStr%, 45 GB%)
(Career vs. ATL: 17 GS, 8-5, 4.25 ERA, 36 BB, 93 K)

What to Watch:
Jair Jurrjens was scratched from his start tonight due to a tweaked knee he received during his side session. Brandon Beachy has been called upon to make his Major League debut in perhaps the biggest game of the Braves’ season. My complete post on Beachy can be found here. The Braves must give Beachy something to work with. Keeping the ball in the park is a strong suit for Beachy, and he has been tremendous in the minors this year, but this is a whole new ballgame in a whole new environment. This game just got a lot more intriguing.

My Take on the Opposition:
Hamels is having perhaps the best season of his career, posting a 3.38 xFIP and 3.59 K/BB. The walks are up but so are the strikeouts, currently at a career-high 9.29 K/9. He’s getting grounders at a career rate of 45% and maintaining a whiff rate of 12%. Hamels is thriving by not relying so heavily on the changeup and throwing his new-found cutter a lot. He gave up three runs in seven innings to the Braves earlier this season. He holds a 4.25 ERA in 17 career starts against them.