Time for the Atlanta Braves to figure out the Philadelphia Phillies
By Jeff Schafer
The Philadelphia Phillies Have Been The Braves Nemesis in 2017
The Atlanta Braves continue their road trip tonight, starting a four game series in Philadelphia against the Philadelphia Phillies, which from what you would think, is a great team to be facing to conclude this fourteen game road trip. Or are the Phillies the team the Braves want to face?
Coming into tonight’s game, the Braves sit in second place in the National League Eastern Division, with a record of 48-52 and thirteen games out of first place. The Phillies are in the basement with a record of 35-64, sitting twenty-five and a half games out of first place and clearly have declared 2017 as a rebuilding year.
Can the Braves get back to .500 for the road trip
Thinking about both team’s records, it would appear as if the Braves should handily sweep this series.
More from Braves News
- Atlanta Braves 2012 Prospect Review: Joey Terdoslavich
- Braves News: Braves sign Fuentes, Andruw’s HOF candidacy, more
- The Weakest Braves Homers Since 2015
- Atlanta Braves Sign Joshua Fuentes to Minor League Deal
- Braves News: New Year’s Eve comes with several questions about the 2023 Braves
In the last ten games, the Braves have a record of 3-7, while the Phillies are 6-4. Now it is difficult to say much about this, as the Braves have had to go up against the likes of the Chicago Cubs (the hottest team in baseball since the All-Star break), the Los Angeles Dodgers (the team with the best record in baseball) and the Arizona Diamondbacks (the team who leads in the National League wildcard race). But, if the Braves can sweep the Phillies, they will get back to .500 on this road trip.
However, in 2017 the Phillies have been the Braves nemesis and it has been difficult for the Braves to figure out how to win against these guys. The Phillies hold a 5-2 edge over the Braves in 2017, which includes a sweep of the Braves back in April.
But, the 5-2 edge is very misleading, as the Braves have outscored the Phillies by a total run count of 30-29, with the Braves losing two, one run games and two, two run games over that span. So, the Braves could really be the ones with the 5-2 edge over the Phillies this year – just bad luck.
Next: Chop: The Swanson move, Johnson on trading block
Counting this series, the Braves and Phillies face off twelve more times in 2017. There is no reason to think that the Braves could not win seventy-five percent of these games and reverse the record currently against the Phillies this year.
Sweeping Philadelphia would bring the Braves to a 52-52 record…yup, let’s get back to .500! The Braves will finally head back home for an eight game home stand against the Dodgers, Marlins and Phillies again. We could be right back into the wildcard race!