Tonight from Turner Field in Atlanta, the Philadelphia Phillies (53-65) look to notch a series win against their division rival Atlanta Braves (72-47) in game two of a three-game set. The game can be live streamed here. Phillies fans can hear the action on WPHT 1210 AM while the Braves faithful can do the same on The Fan 680 AM.
The Braves and Phillies are two teams heading in opposite directions this season.
Thanks in large part to a recent 14-game winning streak, the Braves have a commanding lead in the National League East, with a 14-game lead over the second place Washington Nationals while the Phillies sit in fourth place in the division, 18.5 games behind Atlanta and 13 games out of the second wildcard spot currently owned by the Cincinnati Reds.
The Braves have the best record in baseball, including the best home record in the majors with a 40-17 record at Turner Field, meanwhile the Phillies look destined to miss the playoffs for the second straight season after clinching five consecutive NL East division titles from 2007-11, and winning the World Series in 2008.
Kris Medlen will take the mound for Atlanta while Ethan Martin will hurl the baseball for the Phillies. Through 23 starts, Medlen is 9-10 with a 3.85 ERA while Martin is 1-1 through two starts with a 6.75 ERA.
While the Phillies are on the outside looking in, it doesn't mean that they don't enjoy playing spoiler such as they did with a 5-1 victory over the Braves Monday night.
"From now to the end [of the season] is like a playoff for us," Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz told MLB.com. "Hopefully, we can find a way to win some games."
Medlen, who limited the Nationals to just three runs on three hits in seven innings in his last outing, has been the winning pitcher in each of his last three outings, and told MLB.com his curveball has been a great weapon this season and also said he's been getting advice from former-Braves great John Smoltz.
"It's not just like a spinning little get-me-over pitch," Medlen said per MLB.com. "It's like I can put guys away with it, and it's just another pitch to get them off my changeup, which I think is my best pitch."
Martin, meanwhile, won his first career decision in his last outing against the Cubs last Thursday when he lasted five innings and allowed just one run on four hits.
Philadelphia has endured an injury-ridden season, including losing Roy Halladay to shoulder surgery in May. Halladay will make a rehab start Thursday.
"We've just had bad luck with key injuries," Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee said, according to MLB.com.
The Braves are also banged up as catcher Brian McCann recently took two days off to rest his knee and left fielder Justin Upton exited Sunday's game with a cramp in his hamstring, but returned to the lineup Monday.
It could be somewhat of a somber mood at Turner Field Monday, following the unfortunate death of life-long Braves fan and Georgia native Ronald Lee Homer, 30, who fell more than 60 feet from an upper-level platform at Turner Field Monday night and later died from the injuries he suffered.
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