7:00pm - Turner Field, Atlanta, GA
Pedro Martinez, RHP (5-0, 2.87) v. Javier Vazquez, RHP (13-9, 3.01)
Pedro Martinez will make the start for the Phillies in the sandwich game against the Braves and Javier Vazquez. Martinez is coming off his most dazzling start of the season in which he went eight shut out innings. However, Pedro has been solid all year for the Phils, as they have won all seven of his starts thus far. Vazquez is also a quality pitcher who always tallies a high strikeout total. This will be yet another battle of the pitchers, as the Phillies and Braves toss quality starters against each other.
For the Phillies, Pedro Martinez will make his eighth start of the season. He will try to extend his success from his previous outing, in which he went eight shut out innings against the New York Mets. Martinez has a lot of experience against the Braves line up, and has had success. In 206 career plate appearances, current Braves hitters are batting just .193. Coming off a long outing, it will be interesting to see how he responds. He will need to keep his ball down and velocity up in order to handle a decent Braves order.
Javier Vazquez, the Braves' righty, will take the mound against Pedro and the Phillies tonight. Vazquez is a solid pitcher who can get a strike out anytime he needs one. For his career against Phillies' hitters, Vazquez has held them to a .218 batting average in 283 plate appearances. The Phillies will need to work his pitch count and take advantage of Vazquez's tendency to lose focus at time. It will be a real challenge, though, as Vazquez has enjoyed his time back in the National League this season.
With their magic number at eight, the Phillies can take another chunk out of it tonight. They will face a playoff-caliber pitcher and a team that is hungry to stay in the race. They will need to match the Braves' intensity and execution in this game. Behind Martinez, the Phillies have played to a 7-0 record and will try to extend that success.
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