The Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies have been rivals for a very long time. There is very little love between each fanbase but that's why any series between the two is often entertaining.
Major League Baseball fans will be treated to that rivalry on Friday afternoon from Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. The Braves played well against Philly during the regular season but experienced a bit of deja vu in the 2023 playoffs.
Atlanta was eliminated from the playoffs in two consecutive seasons by the Phillies. That has led to a lot of folks believing that the Braves aren't able to beat Philadelphia when it matters most. Unfortunately, this mirrors how the Braves used to struggle to beat the Dodgers in the postseason.
This is just one motivating factor for the Braves and why fans do not want to miss this series between the two sides. It will be one of the most entertaining series from opening weekend of the 2024 season.
Braves-Phillies storylines that make opening series a must-watch for MLB fans
Spencer Strider's bid for revenge
Philadelphia fans have enjoyed tormenting the Atlanta ace online every year since the infamous bat slam incident happened during the 2022 NLDS. They seem to believe they own Spencer Strider whenever the two foes face off.
While it's fair to say they have won the games Strider has started in the 2022 and 2023 postseasons respectively, that isn't the case. Strider is incredibly good against Philly in the regular season and that likely will not change on Friday as he looks to exact revenge on the team that bounced the Braves two years in a row.
The Braves' historic offense disappeared in the playoffs last year and didn't provide Strider any run support despite him pitching his heart out in both games against Philly in the 2023 NLDS. This talk of "owning" Strider will only motivate the flamethrowing starter to prove everyone wrong.
Spencer Strider recorded a 0.79 ERA in #SpringTraining, the lowest mark of any pitcher with 20+ IP since Clayton Kershaw in 2018 (0.00) 🔒
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) March 26, 2024
Will the @Braves ace win the first Cy Young of his career? pic.twitter.com/NZlMarLVWn
He is a man on a mission in 2024 as his Spring numbers indicate. Strider owned a 0.79 ERA through 22.2 innings pitched with eight walks and 35 strikeouts. The addition of a curveball to his arsenal has only made the talented right-hander even more deadly.
2024 could be the year Spencer Strider earns his first-ever National League Cy Young Award.