Series Preview - Braves at Phillies: April 21st to April 23rd

Friday and Saturday 7:05, Sunday 1:35
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

Braves 6-7, 4th Place in the N.L. East, 2 games behind the Nationals
Phillies 5-8, 5th Place in the N.L. East, 3 games behind the Nationals

Braves Probables:  Bartolo Colon (1-1, 4.24), Jaime Garcia (0-1, 4.67), Mike Foltynewicz (0-2, 4.26)
Phillies Probables:  Jeremy Hellickson (2-0, 1.59), Jerad Eickhoff (0-1, 2.75), Zach Eflin (0-0, 3.60)

At the Ballpark:  Tonight the Phillies will pay tribute to Jackie Robinson, and I believe both the Braves and Phillies will once again all wear Robinson's #42.  The Phanatic celebrates his birthday on Sunday afternoon with all kids receiving a Phanatic cap.

Braves Leaders
Average:  Freddie Freeman - .407
Runs:  Freddie Freeman - 13
Home Runs:  Freddie Freeman - 6
RBIs:  Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis - 8
Stolen Bases:  Brandon Phillips - 4

Wins:  Jim Johnson - 2
ERA:  Julio Teheran - 3.52
Strikeouts:  Julio Teheran - 18
Saves:  Jim Johnson - 3

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Cesar Hernandez - .299
Runs:  Cesar Hernandez - 13
Home Runs:  Maikel Franco and Cesar Hernandez - 3
RBIs:  Maikel Franco - 12
Stolen Bases:  Cesar Hernandez - 3

Wins:  Jeremy Hellickson and Aaron Nola - 2
ERA:  Jeremy Hellickson - 1.59
Strikeouts:  Vince Velasquez - 19
Saves:  Three tied with - 1

1982 Topps #296

1982 Topps #680

1982 Topps Appreciation:  On March 25, 1981, about five short months after winning the first World Championship in franchise history, the Phillies traded their World Series game one starting pitcher to the Braves for outfielder Gary Matthews.  Bob Walk went 11-7 for the Phillies in 1980 and he wouldn't find success again in the big leagues until the 1986 season with the Pirates.  Walk bounced back and forth between the Braves and their Triple-A team in Richmond for three seasons, ultimately posting a 12-13 record over 45 games with the Braves.

Matthews had signed a lucrative six-year contract with the Braves in 1976 and was set to become a free agent following the 1981 season.  Following public acrimony between Matthews and the Braves, the Phillies landed Matthews to replace Greg Luzinski whose departure to the White Sox was imminent.  The trade worked out for both Matthews and the Phils, as he'd earn MVP votes in both 1981 and 1982 and then win N.L.C.S. MVP honors in 1983.