Cole Hamels and his lefty dominance
The Atlanta Braves are three games in back of the Phillies, and as fate would have it the two teams are preparing to meet six more times before the end of the season, heading towards the World Series. The first of the two begins tonight.
The Braves must take at least two of three games from the Phillies in this current series to stay alive in the eastern division. One notch down from the division championship race is the wild card race; here we have the Braves leading the San Francisco Giants by two games.
Atlanta will be fighting from the ropes when they send Jair Jurrjens, 7-6 with a dull 4.64 earned run average on the season against a devastating Philadelphia lineup. Jurrjens’ recent nine hit appearance against the Nationals is sending the message that the Braves will need to win the game by playing offense, not defense. This game will set the tone for the series.
This is easier said than done when Cole Hamels is throwing gas from the Phillies mound. Hamels’ four past wins and matching curve ball are enough to bet on a Phillies win to open the series. Hamels has thrown 28.2 innings in the past four games, allowing 16 hits and only a single run. The lefty should not falter tonight, in turn giving the Phillies a four game lead in the division.
The Phillies are about to close the regular season by reaching their fourth consecutive playoff season, that is of course if they can keep the Braves at bay. Regardless of the Braves or not, this will be the best year to wager on the Phillies. With an 89-61 record and playing well over .500 baseball, the eastern division should belong once again to Philadelphia.
Tags: baseball, Cole Hamels, the Phillies