Series Preview - Phillies at Braves: September 27th to September 29th

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 7:10
Turner Field - Atlanta, GA

Phillies 70-86, 4th place in the N.L. East, 21 games behind the Nationals
Braves 63-92, 5th place in the N.L. East, 27 1/2 games behind the Nationals

Phillies Probables:  Jared Eickhoff (11-14, 3.75), Adam Morgan (2-10, 5.57), Jeremy Hellickson (12-10, 3.78)
Braves Probables:  Julio Teheran (6-10, 3.10), Mike Foltynewicz (8-5, 4.41), Josh Collmenter (2-0, 3.00)

At the Ballpark:  This is the Phillies final visit to Turner Field, and the Braves have a number of "Final" moments scheduled throughout this series.  Tonight is the Final Walk, with fans invited to walk around the warning track prior to the game and Wednesday night is the Final Run, with all fans invited to run the bases post-game.  On Thursday, all fans will be able to take the Final Pic, which is similar to the Phillies Photo Day.

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Cesar Hernandez - .293
Runs:  Odubel Herrera - 85
Home Runs:  Maikel Franco - 25
RBIs:  Maikel Franco - 87
Stolen Bases:  Odubel Herrera - 25

Wins:  Jeremy Hellickson - 12
ERA:  Jared Eickhoff - 3.75
Strikeouts:  Jared Eickhoff - 154
Saves:  Jeanmar Gomez - 37

Braves Leaders
Average:  Freddie Freeman - .305
Runs:  Freddie Freeman - 96
Home Runs:  Freddie Freeman - 32
RBIs:  Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis - 87
Stolen Bases:  Ender Inciarte - 16

Wins:  Mike Foltynewicz - 8
ERA:  Julio Teheran - 3.10
Strikeouts:  Julio Teheran - 152
Saves:  Jim Johnson - 17

1970 Topps #252

1970 Topps #546

1970 Topps Appreciation:  As far as I know, Lowell Palmer has no connection to the Braves, but I wanted to save one of the coolest Phillies cards from the early 1970s for last.  There's one more series preview post coming up for the weekend series with the Mets, and I'll feature the final 1970 Topps Phillies card of the season in that post.

Palmer started his five-year career with the Phillies, appearing in 67 games mostly as a reliever between 1969 and 1971.  In 207 innings, Palmer compiled a 5.39 ERA and a record of 3-10.  Over the next three seasons between 1972 and 1974, he'd wrap up his career with brief appearances with the Cardinals, Indians and Padres.

A member of the 1980 World Championship club, I had this to say about Ron Reed back in a series preview post from 2013, although he's now been dropped to seventh place on the team's all-time saves list:

Reed spent the first 10 years of his career with the Braves (1966-1975) before he was shipped to the Cardinals early in the 1975 season.  Used as a starting pitcher for the Braves and Cardinals, the Phillies converted Reed to a reliever and he enjoyed a successful eight year run (1976-1983) with the club.  His 90 saves with the Phillies place him sixth on the team's all-time saves list.