Philadelphia @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 1, 2013 ) Philadelphia 5, Atlanta 7

There is plenty of focus on the Philadelphia Phillies entering Wednesday's second game of the season in Atlanta, and it has everything to do with Roy Halladay’s right arm. The Phillies’ ace endured a difficult March in which his fastball struggled to crack the high-80s, a stomach virus sapped his strength and plenty of questions persisted after a 2012 season in which Halladay posted his highest ERA in a decade.

The Braves' revamped lineup expects to generate more power in 2013, and the long ball was displayed in Monday’s season-opening 7-5 victory. Freddie Freeman, Dan Uggla and Justin Upton took Cole Hamels deep in the first five innings. Left-hander Paul Maholm starts Wednesday for Atlanta, hoping to continue a strong spring in which he did not allow an earned run in his final 20 1/3 innings.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, PHL 17 (Philadelphia), Fox Sports South (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Roy Halladay (2012: 11-8, 4.49 ERA) vs. Braves LH Paul Maholm (13-11, 3.67).

Turner Field marks the spot where Halladay’s 2012 campaign turned south. He blew a 6-0 lead on May 2 and would go 8-6 with a 5.26 ERA the rest of the season. Halladay won 40 games combined in his first two seasons in Philadelphia, posting ERAs of 2.44 in 2010 and 2.35 in 2011.

Maholm went 4-5 with a 3.54 ERA in 11 starts for Atlanta after coming from the Cubs in a trade deadline deal. He pitched well this spring, going 4-1 with a 1.53 ERA in 29 1/3 innings. Maholm pitched 6 1/3 strong innings in one start vs. the Phillies last season but was rocked for six runs in two-plus innings the second time he faced them..

WALK-OFFS

1. Phillies 2B Chase Utley, who was limited to 83 games due to injuries a year ago, slugged his 200th career homer in Monday’s loss.

2. Freeman was 4-for-8 with two homers against Halladay last season.

3. Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez hinted to media Monday that rookie C Evan Gattis would start Wednesday.

PREDICTION: Braves 4, Phillies 3