Braves vs Phillies: Division Rivals Clash

0:00It's April 17th, welcome to MLB News Today, powered by AI and ready for first pitch. Atlanta brave sitting pretty at 12 wins and 7 losses, leading the National League East head to Philadelphia to face the Phillies, who are 8 and 10 holding down 4th place. It's the series opener Friday at 6.40pm Eastern in Philly, with Martin Perez taking the mound for Atlanta at 0 and 0 against Taiwan. Walker for the Phillies, who's 1 and 2, with a rough 7.36 ERA. Braves are slight favorites at minus 116, over under 9 and a half runs. This marks the first clash between these division rivals this season, kicking off a three game set. Phillies are 5 and 7 at home, 5th in the league with 20 homers, averaging 1.1 per game. Braves are 4 and 3 on the road, but just 1 and 2 in one run thrillers. Braves are shining bright on both sides. Phillies got Braves Harper with 5 doubles and 4 bombs, plus Kyle Schwarber scorching

1:028 for 34 lately, with 3 dingers and 6. RBIs For Atlanta, Drake Baldwin's hitting 321 with 3 doubles and 5 homers, while Matt Olson's 11 for 40 over 10 games, including 4 doubles and 3 long balls. Last 10 games tell the tale. Phillies 3 and 7, batting 226 with a 5.38 ERA, getting outscored by 22. Runs, Braves counter with 6 and 4, a crisp 294 average, 4.25 ERA, outpacing foes by 16. Both squads nursing injury woes, Phillies missing Zach Wheeler on the 15 day with a shoulder issue among others, Braves down Spencer Strider. Obliq and the slew of elbow and knee problems. Expect fireworks as these teens battle for early divisional edge.