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

2020 Chachi 1991 Topps Missing Links #5

2020 Chachi Fan Favorites #20

Friday and Saturday 7:10, Sunday 7:08
Truist Park - Atlanta, GA

At the Ballpark:  I can't find anything official, but this appears to be the designated Hank Aaron Weekend at Truist Field, the ballpark formally known as SunTrust Park.

Phillies 9-12
Tied for 4th Place in the N.L. East, 3 games behind the Braves

Phillies Probables
Aaron Nola (2-1, 2.05)
Zack Wheeler (3-0, 2.81)
Zach Eflin (0-1, 5.14)

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Bryce Harper - .338
Runs:  Bryce Harper - 21
Home Runs:  J.T. Realmuto - 8
RBIs:  J.T. Realmuto - 21
Stolen Bases:  Bryce Harper - 4

Wins:  Zack Wheeler - 3
ERA:  Aaron Nola - 2.05

Strikeouts:  Aaron Nola - 37
Saves:  Hector Neris - 2

Braves 14-11
1st Place in the N.L. East, 1 1/2 games ahead of the Marlins

Braves Probables
Max Fried (3-0, 1.24)
Robbie Erlin (0-0, 5.40)
Josh Tomlin (1-0, 2.35)

Braves Leaders
Average:  Dansby Swanson - .303
Runs:  Dansby Swanson - 21
Home Runs:  Marcell Ozuna - 5
RBIs:  Dansby Swanson - 16
Stolen Bases:  Ender Inciarte - 4

Wins:  Max Fried - 3
ERA:  Max Fried - 1.24

Strikeouts:  Max Fried - 28
Saves:  Mark Melancon - 4

1992 Donruss #753 Braulio Castillo

Rockies 4, Phillies 1
Game 52 - Sunday Afternoon, May 31st in Philadelphia
Record - 19-33, 5th Place, 10 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies dropped their seventh in a row, falling 4-1 to the Rockies.

What It Means:  There's another day off today and then the Reds and Giants come to town for six games.

What Happened:  Jerome Williams allowed four runs in his five innings, closing out May with an ERA of 6.62 for the month.  The Phillies best chance to do something came in the bottom of the seventh when they loaded the bases with no outs.  However, Cameron Rupp, pinch-hitter Darin Ruf and Ben Revere all struck out in succession to end the inning.

Featured Card:  The Rockies entered the National League in 1993, and this is the first time they've ever swept the Phillies in a series at home.  The Phillies lost three players to the Rockies in the 1992 expansion draft - pitchers Andy Ashby and Keith Shepherd along with outfielder Braulio Castillo.

This seems like as good a time as any to post a Castillo card.  Maybe I'll just go with nothing but Castillo cards until the losing streak is over . . .

1992 Stadium Club #124 Braulio Castillo

Rockies 6, Phillies 2
Game 88 - Friday Night, July 13th in Denver
Record - 37-51, 5th Place, 15 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies were outmatched by a pair of Rockies rookies, pitcher Christian Friedrich and shortstop Josh Rutledge, kicking off their second half with a loss.

What It Means:  So much for getting the second half off to a good start.  If you're keeping score at home, the Phillies have lost ten of their last eleven, corresponding with Chase Utley's return.  They have yet to win with Ryan Howard in the line-up.

What Went Wrong:  Friedrich out dueled Cliff Lee, striking out seven Phillies in six innings.  Lee left after six after giving up three runs (two earned) on nine hits.  He now has a 1-6 record.  Michael Schwimer failed to escape the seventh inning, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks.

Featured Card:  For some inexplicable reason, Gameday Audio was on the fritz last night and we were forced to listen into the television broadcast.  Perhaps the highlight (for me) of the telecast was a segment in which the Phillies broadcasters recalled the 1992 Expansion Draft and the players the Phillies lost to the newly formed Rockies and Marlins clubs.

The Phils lost Andy Ashby, Keith Shepherd and Braulio Castillo to the Rockies.  This time last year, I published a post detailing the first ex-Phillies farmhands to join to the Marlins.

Bottom line is - when the highlight of a Phillies game is a discussion involving Braulio Castillo, you know the season isn't going so well.

1992 Bowman #104 Braulio Castillo