{"id":677174,"date":"2026-04-16T21:30:27","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T21:30:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/677174\/"},"modified":"2026-04-16T21:30:27","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T21:30:27","slug":"surging-braves-set-to-open-series-against-grinding-phillies-field-level-media-professional-sports-content-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/677174\/","title":{"rendered":"Surging Braves set to open series against ‘grinding’ Phillies – Field Level Media – Professional sports content solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies are trending in opposite directions heading into their first matchup of the season Friday.<\/p>\n

The visiting Braves have won three series in a row, taking two of three from the Los Angeles Angels, Cleveland Guardians and Miami Marlins over the last two weeks. Most recently, Atlanta won its final two against Miami, including a 6-3 victory Wednesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you start to win games and you start to win series, you start to believe,\u201d Braves manager Walt Weiss said. \u201cI go back to the stuff I was saying in spring training and at the end of camp. It\u2019s just a really good vibe and the guys have a really good look in their eyes. They\u2019re playing that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bryce Elder pitched 5 2\/3 scoreless innings Wednesday to lower his ERA to 0.77, while Matt Olson, Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies all hit home runs for Atlanta.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s good offense,\u201d said Weiss, whose team is the only one with a winning record in the National League East. \u201cEspecially when we get everyone rolling, it\u2019s going to be a really good offense.\u201d<\/p>\n

Philadelphia has lost three series in a row, dropping two of three against the San Francisco Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs. The Phillies were pounded 11-2 by the Cubs on Wednesday as Jesus Luzardo gave up nine runs (eight earned) on 12 hits in 5 1\/3 innings.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got to keep grinding,\u201d Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. \u201cWe\u2019re going through a tough time right now in all phases of the game. I don\u2019t think that\u2019s any secret, but we\u2019re going to get better. We\u2019re a good club.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trea Turner and Bryce Harper hit solo home runs for Philadelphia, while Adolis Garcia notched two hits. Still, the Phillies lost their third home series of the season \u2014 as many as they lost at home all of last year.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, we want to win,\u201d Harper said. \u201cIt\u2019s the main goal of why we\u2019re here. You never want to lose games. Obviously, it\u2019s early in the season, but I don\u2019t like that notion because I like to win games in April as much as I like to win games in September.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harper will face Atlanta left-hander Martin Perez (0-1, 3.14 ERA), who was designated for assignment on Sunday but brought back after he passed through waivers and elected free agency. The 35-year-old allowed one run and two hits in five innings against Cleveland on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Perez has made 10 appearances (nine starts) against Philadelphia, going 4-1 with a 3.78 ERA.<\/p>\n

The Phillies will give the nod to right-hander Taijuan Walker (1-2, 7.36), who has given up nine first-inning runs in his three starts, but just four runs outside of the first. He allowed two runs in the first inning against the Diamondbacks on Saturday before following that up with four scoreless frames in a 4-3 triumph.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, we\u2019ve been trying a few things \u2014 we\u2019re trying to figure it out, just haven\u2019t gotten it yet,\u201d Walker said. \u201cI feel like after the first inning, everything is good, I get in a little groove. So, just got to figure out that first inning.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 11 career appearances (10 starts) against Atlanta, Walker is 3-2 with a 4.63 ERA.<\/p>\n

\u2013Field Level Media<\/p>\n

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