Hitting weather may have come and gone, but the Phillies play as of late certainly hasn't cooled. The weather tonight will feel a whole lot more like rally towel weather, with game time temps likely reaching in to the upper 60s. That, of course, shouldn't stop the Phillies from hitting.
With Jair Jurrjens being scratched due to injury, they'll face Brandon Beachy in his Major League debut, a guy Braves' closer Billy Wagner said may not exactly know his way around just yet.
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"The kid don’t know up from down right now. He’s obviously very talented. They had him down in Orlando staying ready so this is a great opportunity for him. His first appearance in the big leagues is going to be very meaningful and emotional game for both sides. He’s lucky—he gets to be involved in a game that’s crucial for both sides," Wagner said of Beachy before the game.
Crucial, indeed. Tonight's game is the first of six these two teams will play over the next two weeks with only the NL East division crown on the line. While we can't say the same thing about Turner Field next week, Citizens Bank Park will surely have a playoff type atmosphere, with rally towels being distributed to fans in attendance. But does this feel like a playoff series to Charlie and the Fightins?
"This feels like a game we gotta win, a Monday night game," Manuel said. "You guys can say anything you want to, every game's a World Series game to me."
With Cole Hamels on the mound tonight, hopefully Charlie was thinking the '08 World Series. The Fightins' haven't exactly faired well against guys they've never seen before, but Beachy is also a guy making his MLB debut in a huge spot. You have to like Hamels in this matchup.
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First pitch is scheduled for 7:05. Should be a fantastic night at the ball park.