Series Preview - Phillies at Braves: June 5th to June 8th

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 7:35
SunTrust Park - Atlanta, GA

Phillies 19-35, 5th Place in the N.L. East, 15 1/2 games behind the Nationals
Braves 24-30, 2nd Place in the N.L. East, 10 1/2 games behind the Nationals

Phillies Probables:  Nick Pivetta (0-2, 5.12), Aaron Nola (2-3, 5.06), Jerad Eickhoff (0-6, 5.13), Ben Lively (1-0, 1.29)
Braves Probables:  Bartolo Colon (2-6, 6.99), Jaime Garcia (2-3, 3.18), Mike Foltynewicz (3-5, 3.90), R.A. Dickey (3-4, 5.10)

At the Ballpark:  It's a good series to be a kid at the new SunTrust Park.  Following Monday night's game, kids can run the bases.  On Wednesday, the first 1,000 kids will take part in a "Kids Parade with Player High-Fives."  The official description given is just what you'd expect - "Kids . . . can parade around the field, with player high-fives."  On Thursday, the first 5,000 kids will receive a plastic bat and ball set.

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Cesar Hernandez - .290
Runs:  Cesar Hernandez - 38
Home Runs:  Tommy Joseph - 9
RBIs:  Maikel Franco - 29
Stolen Bases:  Cesar Hernandez - 6

Wins:  Jeremy Hellickson - 5
ERA:  Jeremy Hellickson - 4.50
Strikeouts:  Jerad Eickhoff and Vince Velasquez - 53
Saves:  Hector Neris - 5

Braves Leaders
Average:  Matt Kemp - .335
Runs:  Freddie Freeman and Ender Inciarte - 35
Home Runs:  Freddie Freeman - 14
RBIs:  Matt Kemp - 30
Stolen Bases:  Ender Inciarte - 10

Wins:  Julio Teheran - 5
ERA:  Jaime Garcia - 3.18
Strikeouts:  Mike Foltynewicz and Julio Teheran - 51
Saves:  Jim Johnson - 11

1982 Topps #317

1982 Topps #32

1982 Topps Appreciation:  When the Phillies and Braves faced off back in April, I featured two players (Bob Walk and Gary Matthews) who had been traded for one another.  We have another pair of players traded for one another for this series preview post.

On June 15, 1978, the Phillies and Braves swapped pitchers with Dick Ruthven coming to Philadelphia and Gene Garber heading to Atlanta.  I first wrote about this deal in a series preview post in 2012, featuring both pitchers' 1979 Topps cards.

Garber was purchased from the Royals back in July 1974 and for parts of five seasons, he was one of the Phillies most reliable relief pitchers.  He appeared in 250 games with the Phils, including a league leading 71 in 1975, compiling a 33-22 record with 51 saves and a 2.68 ERA.  Garber's career spanned 19 seasons and he eventually retired following his release by the Royals in July 1988. 

Ruthven was drafted by the Phillies in January 1973, and he appeared in his first game with the big club in April 1973.  After struggling in 1975, the Phils shipped him to the White Sox in the deal that netted Jim Kaat.  His second stint with the Phillies was much more successful, as his 17-10 record in 1980 helped the team to their first World Series ring.  In May 1983, Ruthven was dealt to the Cubs for Willie Hernandez.  He pitched with the Cubs until his release in May 1986.