The Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cliff Lee threw eight innings of two hit baseball against the Atlanta Braves this last time these two teams faced each other at Turner Field very early in the 2013 MLB season. Lee 9-2 2.59 ERA overall is 7-0 in eleven starts going at least seven Innings Pitched each time and allowing two runs or fewer in eight of those games. The former Cy Young Winner has not lost in more than two months and will face an Atlanta team that dropped two of three along with the series to the Miami Marlins over the Fourth Of July Holiday. Lee is 4-1 0.78 ERA in last six games vs. Atlanta with an opponent batting average of .176 with 45 K's and only 3 BB's. Hudson is 4-7 4.22 ERA overall and in the midst of a ten game winless streak. Run Support is the main issue in Hudson's starts and that issue may not improve tonight if Lee is as dominant as in previous outings in this matchup. Hudson has really struggled away from Turner Field with 1-7 5.71 ERA in nine starts on the road. Hudson has however won two of his last three starts in Philadelphia. The Phillies offense has 210+ Hits since mid June leading MLB for that time frame along with 94 Runs also close to the top of that statistic. Ryan Howard is .328 with 7 HR's vs. Hudson. Philadelphia has allowed 94 Runs going 10-10 since June 13th. Atlanta has won 13 of last 18 vs. Philadelphia but Braves now with a losing 20-23 Road Record on the season. Philadelphia with a 19-18 Home Record on the season as well. Atlanta is up against their nemesis of nemesis's tonight in Cliff Lee. Most Braves fans cringe when the name is uttered and Lee may be close to untouchable tonight back in his own back yard. Hudson's ten game winless streak now on the road tonight vs. Lee's seven game overall win streak now back at home may be odds that Atlanta cannot overcome. Source: ESPN MLB Preview.
