Atlanta @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 2, 2010 ) Philadelphia 1, Atlanta 2
Derek Lowe and Roy Halladay have met before.
They've pitched against each other on two occasions as AL East rivals while members of the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays, respectively. For what it's worth, Halladay won both encounters.
On Monday, they'll start a new chapter as Lowe will guide the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves (48-34) into Citizens Bank Park for the opener of the four-game set against Halladay and the struggling Philadelphia Phillies (42-38).
Philadelphia enjoyed a 4 1/2-game lead in the division on May 22, but has since recorded a 16-23 mark to fall five full games behind front-running Atlanta.
The Phillies went 2-5 during their seven-game road trip, capped off by dropping three of four to the National League cellar-dwelling Pittsburgh Pirates this weekend.
For their part, the Braves won all three of their series on their nine-game homestand, posting a 6-3 mark in the process.
Lowe (9-6, 4.53 ERA) is looking to rebound from a setback in his last outing. The 37-year-old sinkerballer permitted four runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings in a 7-2 loss to the Washington Nationals.
This season, Lowe has faced the Phillies three times already. After dropping his first two meetings, the right-hander allowed one run and six hits while striking out seven as the Braves recorded a 2-1 victory on June 2.
In his career, Lowe is 7-3 with two saves and a 3.26 ERA in 17 games against Philadelphia.
Halladay (9-7, 2.42 ERA) will look to continue his mastery of the Braves. The 33-year-old right-hander, who has posted a 2-0 career mark with a tidy 0.46 ERA, expertly blanked the Braves on April 21.
Named to the NL All-Star team on Sunday, Halladay was unable to keep a three-run lead and surrendered four runs and a career-high 13 hits en route to a 4-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday.
Halladay will have to keep Brian McCann in check. The All-Star catcher, who was named on Sunday to his fifth Midsummer Classic in as many years, belted a solo homer in the Braves' 3-2 loss to the Florida Marlins on Sunday.
Atlanta boasts five All-Stars this season to Philadelphia's three.
Phillies second baseman Chase Utley, who is one of the three All-Stars, is one of seven members of the team on the disabled list. He is expected to be sidelined until September with a torn ligament in his left thumb.