May 13 -- HOME FOR THE BRAVES

Good afternoon, all. Back from San Francisco. Thanks very much for your responses to the questions I posted in this space yesterday, and if you haven't weighed in, it's never too late.

Anyway, the Phillies open a six-game homestand tonight against the Braves. It marks the first time since April 20, a span of 20 games, that they will play an NL East opponent. Atlanta will throw back-to-back-to-back lefty starters (Jo-Jo Reyes, Tom Glavine, Chuck James), so it's important that the Phillies' right-handed hitters (Pat Burrell, Jayson Werth, Pedro Feliz, Carlos Ruiz/Chris Coste) have big weeks. Of course, it would help too if switch-hitting Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino get a few hits from the right side.

Speaking of Rollins, today's News Journal features a story on the MVP shortstop's impact on the Phillies. Sometimes, it's easy for media and fans to overrate the influence that one player can have on a team. Cole Hamels doesn't think that's the case with Rollins, who, it seems, has an effect on the Phillies just by being in the clubhouse.

Here's a preview of the big series with Atlanta. As always, I'm eager to see what Brett Myers gives the Phillies tomorrow night. There's no debating it: They need Myers to be better.

Think the Phils can take two of three? Can they sweep? You tell me.

BRAVES (19-18) at PHILLIES (21-18)
Tonight, 7:05: LHP Jo-Jo Reyes (1-0, 2.25) vs. RHP Kyle Kendrick (2-2, 4.93)
Wednesday, 7:05: LHP Tom Glavine (0-1, 4.03) vs. RHP Brett Myers (2-3, 5.33)
Thursday, 7:05: LHP Chuck James (2-2, 7.58) vs. LHP Cole Hamels (4-3, 3.36)
Hot: Braves 3B Chipper Jones batted .410 in April and barely has slowed in May, batting .395 (15-for-38); Braves RF Jeff Francoeur went 5-for-10 in a doubleheader Monday against Pittsburgh; Phillies RHP Brad Lidge hasn’t allowed an earned run in 17 innings this season; Phillies 3B Pedro Feliz batted .364 (8-for-22) with four RBIs on the seven-game western road trip.
Not: Braves 1B Mark Teixeira has four hits in his last 21 at-bats and left the first game of Monday’s doubleheader with back spasms; Braves LF Matt Diaz has one hit in his last 13 at-bats; Phillies LF Pat Burrell went 2-for-18 with one RBI on the seven-game road trip; Phillies RF Jayson Werth has five hits in his last 35 at-bats (.143) and two RBIs in his last 10 games.