@Philabaseball
The Phillies open the road portion of the 2013 campaign on Monday night at Turner Field against the Atlanta Braves. Cole Hamels is scheduled to start the series opener, marking the first time in his career he'll be on the mound on Opening Day.
Hamels was 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA in four starts against Atlanta last season. He will be opposed by 37-year-old veteran right-hander Tim Hudson.
This Season: First time facing each other.
Pitching Matchup: Cole Hamels (3.23 xFIP, 4.15 K/BB, 1.12 WHIP) vs. Tim Hudson (4.10 xFIP, 2.13 K/BB, 1.21 WHIP).
Weather: 68-degrees and sunny skies
About the Braves: The bullpen was dealt a severe blow last week when Jonny Venters was forced to leave an exhibition game because of what the Braves called an elbow sprain. The reliever will meet with Dr. James Andrews later this week for a full evaluation ... Brian McCann is out of the lineup until at least the last week of April while rehabbing from surgery on his right shoulder. McCann is a career .268 hitter against the Phillies, collecting 19 homers and 77 RBIs over 119 games. Gerald Laird and Evan Gattis are expected to split playing time behind the plate ... Prior to Monday, Tim Hudson last made an Opening Day start in 2008.
Odds: Braves favored -110. Over/Under set at 7.
Phillies Lineup: Revere 8, Rollins 6, Utley 4, Howard 3, Young 5, Brown 7, Mayberry 9, Kratz 2, Hamels 1.
Braves Lineup: Simmons 6, Heyward 9, J Upton 7, Freeman 3, BJ Upton 8, Uggla 4, C Johnson 5, Laird 2, Hudson 1.
- Patrick Gordon is the Managing Editor of the Philadelphia Baseball Review. Follow him on Twitter @Philabaseball or contact him at pgordon@philadelphiabaseballreview.com.
