Phillies (60-73) vs. Braves (51-83)
7:05 p.m. on CSN
The Phillies got a much-needed day off Thursday to clear their heads after being swept at home by the Nationals. They scored just three runs on nine hits in the three games, but the offense has a chance to get back on track this weekend against the lowly Braves.
1. Race to the bottom
The Braves are having a truly miserable season. The only team in the majors with a worse record is the Twins, at 50-84. Atlanta is on pace to finish 62-100, a game worse than the Phillies did last season.
Like the Phillies, the Braves are rebuilding. But they're doing it in a slightly different way. They still have a middle-of-the-order star in Freddie Freeman. They went out and acquired veteran outfielder Matt Kemp from the Padres to add a right-handed complement to Freeman. In Julio Teheran, Atlanta has a starting pitcher more established than any of the young guys in the Phillies' rotation.
The Phils have beaten up on the Braves, winning eight of the 13 games. Atlanta has a winning record this season against only two teams: the Marlins (8-4) and Padres (4-2).
2. First look at Swanson
The Braves called up top prospect, shortstop Dansby Swanson, on Aug. 17, so this will be the Phillies' first look at him.
Swanson was the first overall pick in the 2015 MLB draft by the Diamondbacks. Arizona traded him to Atlanta in December as part of the Shelby Miller trade, a deal the Braves have clearly won so far with Miller flaming out with the D-backs.
MLB
Swanson's off to a slow start in his first dozen games in the majors, hitting .255 with two extra-base hits and three walks in 51 plate appearances. He's also made three errors.
Swanson skipped Triple A completely. You'll see organizations do that with top prospects from time to time. Atlanta's plan was to give him about six weeks in the majors this season to get acclimated before he likely takes the opening day shortstop job next season.
The Phillies have been more cautious with their top prospects.
Swanson, who went to Vanderbilt, is exactly 11 months older than J.P. Crawford.
3. Hellickson looks to bounce back
Jeremy Hellickson is coming off his worst start since June 10. He allowed five runs, 10 baserunners and two homers over four innings against the Mets last Saturday. He was taken deep by Yoenis Cespedes and Asdrubal Cabrera, chalking it up as "just one of those nights."
The Braves are a welcome respite for any starting pitcher. The Phillies have scored a major league-low 492 runs this season and the Braves are next-worst at 509.
Hellickson has faced them twice in July, allowing one earned run in six innings the first time and three runs in 5⅔ innings the next. The Phillies won both games.
Nobody on Atlanta's roster has hit him all that hard. Nick Markakis has seen him by far the most from their days facing each other in the AL East. He's 10 for 47 (.213) with two homers. Kemp is 5 for 15 against Hellickson with a double, a triple and five strikeouts.
Hellickson is 10-8 with a 3.80 ERA in 26 starts this season. He's struck out 131 and walked just 36 in 154 innings.
4. Scouting De La Cruz
The Braves go with rookie right-hander Joel De La Cruz, who is 0-7 with a 4.66 ERA in 15 games (eight starts).
The Phillies saw De La Cruz twice in July, once as a starter and once as a reliever. In the start, he pitched 4⅓ shutout innings despite allowing three hits, two walks and not striking out a batter.
They also faced him in his second big-league start back on July 4. They scored seven runs against him in six innings.
The 27-year-old Dominican has struggled with control lately, walking 13 in his last 29 innings.
A few Phillies have seen De La Cruz well. Peter Bourjos went 2 for 2 with a pair of doubles. Odubel Herrera went 3 for 6 with a double and a homer. Tommy Joseph was 2 for 6 with two doubles of his own. Altogether, the Phillies have collectively hit .316 against him with nine extra-base hits in 38 at-bats.
There's nothing special or uncommon about De La Cruz. He's a 6-foot-1 righty who throws a sinker at 92 mph, a slider and changeup.
5. This and that
• Kemp hasn't done much with the Braves, hitting .250/.307/.402 with three homers and 19 RBIs in 127 plate appearances.
• Freeman has been on fire for nearly three full months. Over his last 71 games he's hit .330/.432/.670 with 24 doubles, five triples, 19 homers and 51 RBIs. The Braves are only seven games under .500 over that span, which is saying something for a team 32 games under for the year. Freeman has hit .340 with four homers and eight RBIs in 13 games against the Phillies this season.
• The Phillies are hitting a MLB-worst .224 at home.
• The Phillies are 13 games under .500, tying their worst record of the season. They were previously 32-45 and 30-43.