Philadelphia @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 22, 2013 ) Atlanta 6, Philadelphia 7

Atlanta opens a new era Monday as highly touted outfielders and brothers B.J. and Justin Upton make their Braves’ debuts when Atlanta hosts the Philadelphia Phillies. The Braves, who won 94 games a year ago but fell to St. Louis in the National League wild-card game, went to great lengths this off-season to bolster their offense. Atlanta signed center fielder B.J. Upton to a five-year, $75.25 million contract and pulled off a seven-player trade with Arizona to land left fielder Justin Upton.

The Phillies would love to see opening night starter Cole Hamels replicate last season’s performance, in which the left-hander won 17 games and finished eighth in NL Cy Young voting. Philadelphia saw its streak of five consecutive NL East titles end in 2012, but hopes a healthy Chase Utley and Ryan Howard will reinvigorate an offense that finished 19th in runs scored. The Phillies are missing one of their top offensive players to start 2013 as catcher Carlos Ruiz begins a 25-game suspension for using a banned stimulant.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ESPN2, PHL 17 (Philadelphia), Fox Sports South (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Philadelphia LH Cole Hamels (2012: 17-6, 3.05 ERA) vs. Atlanta RH Tim Hudson (16-7, 3.62).

Hamels looks more than ready, dominating in five Grapefruit League starts while going 3-0 and holding opponents to a .172 batting average. He roared through the first two months last season, going 8-1 in his first 10 starts. Hamels was 1-1 against Atlanta in four starts, the loss coming at Turner Field on July 27.

The 37-year-old Hudson starts his 15th major-league season three wins shy of 200 for his career. Hudson went 2-1 with a 3.90 ERA in seven Grapefruit League starts this spring. He has won 49 games the past three years, and was 3-1 in five starts against the Phillies in 2012.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta won the season series 12-6 last year, and the Phillies will be more than happy not to see retired Braves star Chipper Jones on the field. Jones slugged two walk-off homers against Philadelphia in 2012.

2. Atlanta also will be without its starting catcher for the first month as Brian McCann continues to recover from off-season shoulder surgery.

3. The Braves and Phillies are accustomed to finishing first. Since Atlanta moved into the NL East in 1995, the two teams have won the division 16 times - 11 for the Braves. Only the Mets in 2006 and the Nationals last season have broken the stranglehold.

PREDICTION: Braves 3, Phillies 2