Nation Notes: Braves vs. Phillies

Atlanta Braves (55-83) at Philadelphia Phillies (53-85)

Starting Pitchers:
PHI: Aaron Nola, RHP (5-2, 4.02)
vs.
ATL: Ryan Weber, RHP (0-0, 0.00)

Time: 7:05 EST, Citizens Bank Park
TV: CSN
Weather: Sunny, 90 degrees
Media: Twitter and Facebook

A Note for Today:

As the Phillies are no strangers to MLB Debut’s, the Braves will be unveiling a pitcher tonight at Citizens Bank Park, Ryan Weber.  Weber has a 6-5 record in the Minors across two teams, pitching 99.2 innings and sporting a 2.35 ERA.

The Phillies will continue to look to turn things around with their young stars (or prospects if you prefer), but the future Phillies team is beginning to take shape in an outfield of young talent and a farm load of infielders still to see daylight.  Aaron Altherr has been lighting things up in the majors with 5 doubles, 2 triples, and 2 home runs in 17 game appearances so far this year.  Altherr had a triple in last nights’ game, along with a great catch and assist on a double play in the top of the 8th inning.

Darnell Sweeney had a small blunder in the outfield last night, and went ofer on the evening with 3 strikeouts.  We caught a glimpse of Brian Bogusevic for the first time this year when he smacked a home run on a pinch-hit opportunity for Aaron Harang in the bottom of the 5th inning, and will be getting the spot start in place of Sweeney for the game tonight.  Bogusevic has been hiding in triple-A all year, batting with a .296 batting average and a .424 slugging percentage.

Aaron Nola will get the ball on the mound today, in his last start he went for 4.0 inning against the Mets after giving up 9 hits and 6 earned runs.  Nola has been anything but extraordinary for the Phillies until this game, picking up Cole Hamels’ spot in the rotation, and eating up innings for the most worked bullpen in baseball.

First pitch at 7:05 EST tonight.

Lineup:

Hernandez 2B, Herrera CF, Altherr RF, Howard 1B, Blanco SS, Bogusevic LF,  Rupp C, Asche 3B, Nola RHP