Atlanta @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 5, 2010 ) Atlanta 1, Philadelphia 3
Throughout the season, the Atlanta Braves have been making their best pitch as to why they deserve to be atop the NL East.
After one start following a two-month absence, Jair Jurrjens is determined to make his pitch as to why he should reclaim his spot atop their rotation.
A 14-game winner last season, Jurrjens (1-3, 5.59 ERA) will take the hill for the Braves against the rival Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday.
In Monday's series opener, Greg Dobbs belted a two-run homer in the sixth inning and All-Star Roy Halladay pitched his seventh complete game of the season as the Phillies recorded a 3-1 triumph.
Recalled after All-Star second baseman Chase Utley (thumb) and veteran third baseman Placido Polanco (elbow) were sidelined with their respective injuries, Dobbs has fared well as an everyday starter. He is 5-for-15 with three RBIs in four contests.
Also on Monday, Juan Castro had a run-scoring single and Jayson Werth scored twice for Philadelphia (43-38), which moved to within four games of the front-running Braves (48-35).
The victory was just the Phillies' second in their last six games.
Jurrjens is hoping to stymie Philadelphia in the same manner he did last year. He posted a 2-1 mark with a 1.35 ERA in four starts against the Fightin' Phils last year.
The 24-year-old right-hander returned to action last Wednesday after being sidelined with a strained left hamstring and permitted one runs and six hits in five innings.
Jurrjens admitted that fatigue was a factor and watched from the dugout as the Braves completed a 4-1 triumph over the Washington Nationals.
Philadelphia will counter with Cole Hamels (5-7, 4.07 ERA) on Tuesday. The 26-year-old left-hander, who has been a victim of his team's disappearing offense, has recorded four quality starts in his last five outings.
While his results have been mixed, Hamels has fanned at least six in each of those four starts - while not allowing more than five hits in the process.
Hamels will have to keep an eye on veteran Chipper Jones, who belted his 432nd career home run - a solo shot - in the first inning on Monday.
The milestone homer moved Jones past Cal Ripken Jr. for sole possession of 38th place on the all-time list.