Trying to view the series as an unbiased fan (which I am obviously not).... with the current lineups and bull pen situations for each team... if atl had their big three going to match the phills, jurrjens tonight, hanson tomorrow, and hudson sunday, I would probably have to lean braves. If in any of the three games, roy cliff or cole cant go 7 full innings, they cannot win the game with any pitcher they have in their pen that they would put in prior to the 8th inning. As seen two nights ago, we all knew that a three run lead was not enough when kendrick was forced out of the game early. On the other end of things, if jurrjens, hanson and hudson were going, I do not think that philly could score more then two or three runs without there best two contact hitters in polanco and victorino in any of the three games. This philly team is extremely good, probably the best in the majors.. but are also getting up there in age. We all knew coming into the season that the biggest worry was injuries. It started early with Utley, lidge and brown, Utley being 32 and lidge 34... then soon to follow was blanton (30) and oswalt (33). To make things worse, the next two top closers went down in 39 yr old contrares and 30 year old Madson. We are now looking at all stars 30 yr old victorino on his second stint on the DL and 35 year old polanco most likely to hit the DL. The common denominator? All but Brown are on the wrong side of 30. As a phills fan, I can only hope that these injuries heal up and stay in the rear view mirror (as utleys has appeared to up until now). If so, no team should be able to touch these Phills with those 4 pitchers in October to go along with a suddenly deep bull pen and a group of veteran hitters. If not though, the Braves are very close behind and breathing down their neck. It wont take much, especially the way they are playing right now, for the Braves to pass them by. Every team has injuries, that is completely understood.. but when you knock out a teams top three relievers along with their two all star hitters and 2 starters in the rotation, not many teams can withstand that. That is the risk Philly took bringing this team together, and right now, that risk may be costing them... still have the best record in baseball and treading water.. but who knows how long this can last? Basically all this to say... braves are a very close second with both teams completely healthy. Right now, the Braves are better and with their top three going against the phills at this moment, Id have to lean in the braves direction. Luckily (not to say beachy and lowe arent good--they are, just not at jurrjens and hudsons level IMO), the phills are at home and are not seeing the braves top three, so they should be able to take 2 of 3 this weekend... either way, it should be a fun series, even if it is only July