Atlanta @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 3, 2013 ) Atlanta 5, Philadelphia 4
The Atlanta Braves look to record their second 10-game winning streak of the season when they finish a three-game series in Philadelphia against the Phillies on Sunday night. It took 12 innings, but the Braves ran their run to nine games with a 5-4 triumph Saturday. Atlanta leads the National League East by 11 1/2 games over the Washington Nationals.
Cliff Lee will make his first start in two weeks for Philadelphia, which has lost 12 of its last 13 games. He was scratched from his scheduled start July 27 because of a stiff neck, adding fuel to rampant speculation that he would be traded prior to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. That date came and went, and Lee remained a member of the Phillies, but is rejoining a team in free fall.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves LH Alex Wood (1-2, 3.51 ERA) vs. Phillies LH Cliff Lee (10-4, 3.05)
Wood picked up his first major league win after allowing three runs in seven innings against Colorado on Tuesday. It was the second straight start and third of the year for the 22-year-old, who has also appeared 15 times out of the bullpen. Two of those relief appearances came at Philadelphia on July 6 and 7 when he allowed a run in 1 2/3 innings.
Prior to the neck issue, Lee had hit a bump in the road, going 0-2 while giving up nine runs in 13 innings over a two-start span. He served up seven home runs in those outings after giving up a total of nine over his first 18 appearances. Lee's last win came against the Braves on July 5, when he gave up four runs in 6 1/3 innings, and he also threw eight scoreless innings in a dominant performance at Atlanta to open his season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Lee owns a career 2.97 ERA against Atlanta. It is his fifth-lowest mark among teams he has faced at least 10 times.
2. Atlanta CF B.J. Upton is 1-for-40 with two outs and runners in scoring position.
3. Braves closer RHP Craig Kimbrel has recorded 22 saves in a row.
PREDICTION: Phillies 4, Braves 3