With the All-Star break over and the second half of the MLB season set to start, the race for the National League East is more heated than ever. The Washington Nationals, Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies remain focused at getting to the top spot. The Braves are in a tie for the top spot while the Phillies have dropped off. Atlanta is attempting to gain sole control of the No. 1 spot as the two rivals face off for a weekend series.
The Atlanta Braves are hoping to be playoff contenders, remaining just percentage points away from overtaking the Washington Nationals in the NL East. The Phillies have dropped off and might as well begin prepping for next year. However, this is a heated rivalry and both teams have already swept one another once this season as someone looks to do it again.
The Braves have struggled with consistency. They won nine games in a row and then followed that up by losing five of their next six, combining for just 21 runs total. Ervin Santana will take the mound with his 7-6 record and 4.01 ERA. In his last start against the Phillies, the pitcher gave up just two runs in over six innings as Atlanta got the win. Pairing him with a strong bullpen that gave up just one run in 10 innings before the All-Star break and the Braves are looking like a true postseason team.
The Atlanta bats got hot just before the break. Jason Heyward went 12 for 30 during a seven-game hitting streak. However, against the Phillies he is just 4 for 33 in 10 games. The Braves need players like Freddie Freeman and Justin Upton to step up and help get the offense moving in the right direction.
The Phillies are focusing more on the trade deadline than the remainder of the season. AJ Burnett could be on the way out as he prepares to start. He has seven straight quality starts to his name, throwing a 2.94 ERA in the time span which might only help him get traded in the near future.However, he is 0-3 with a 4.56 ERA against the Atlanta Braves. He is winless in 10 starts against the Braves.
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