Gameday 2018: Braves (28-17) at Phillies (26-18)
The Atlanta Braves come to town for a three-game set, and here are the National League East standings:
- Braves – 28-17
- Phillies – 26-18
The Braves have the best winning percentage in the National League (thanks most recently to the Marlins), while the Phillies split four games against the Cardinals and have the third-best winning mark in the league. Both teams have played pretty well this season, and now that we’re past the quarter pole, we can say very honestly that this is a big deal. So here we are: the biggest series of Phillies baseball in seven years.
Are you ready? I am. These are going to be fun, annoying, stomach-churning, exciting, nutty games.
Gametime: 7:05 p.m.
The lineup:
- Hernandez – 2B
- Hoskins – LF
- Herrera – CF
- Franco – 3B
- Santana – 1B
- Alfaro – C
- Williams – RF
- Kingery – SS
- Pivetta – P
Pitchers: Nick Pivetta (3-2, 3.72 ERA) vs. Mike Foltynewicz (3-2, 2.87 ERA)
How is Mike Foltynewicz THIS good? Look, he is good. But he’s THIS good? Tonight is about Pivetta putting it all together and stomping all over Atlanta.
Meanwhile the starting lineup has shifted. Maikel Franco is in the cleanup spot, while Jorge Alfaro moves up to six, pushing Nick Williams to seven. A lot of left-right-left-right tonight. Very interesting.
Your Gameday Beer: Bell’s makes really good beer. They just do it right. Tonight, grab a Hopslam Ale. Or a Two-Hearted. Or a Kalamazoo Stout. Whatever – all of it is good. Tonight is about the game. Focus. Attention. Root. Let’s. Go.
Go Phillies!
