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The Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies will cap off Major League Baseball's Opening Day 2009 with an NL East battle in Philadelphia. The game is scheduled to begin at 8:00pm ET at Citizens Bank Park and will be televised live on ESPN2.

Atlanta Braves vs Philadelphia Phillies Baseball Predictions at Bodoglife.com have the defending World Champion Phillies listed as a -130 moneyline favorite.

Atlanta is coming off a successful 2009 spring training, going 21-12 and finishing second in the Florida Grapefruit League. The Braves upgraded their roster, particularly their pitching staff, in the off-season after finishing fourth in the NL East in 2008 with a 72-90 record. Atlanta added veteran Garret Anderson to the outfield as well as starting pitchers Derek Lowe and Javier Vazquez. They did, however, see the departure of longtime workhorse Jon Smoltz.

Starting tonight for Atlanta, with ace Tim Hudson currently on the DL, is new addition Derek Lowe. The right hander had a solid year for the Dodgers last season, going 14-11 with a 3.24 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. In two starts versus the Phillies last year, Lowe went 1-1 after pitching 11.2 innings and giving up five earned runs. 

The Phillies did not have a spectacular spring training, finishing 12th in the Grapefruit League with a 13-19 record. However, with the exception of departed outfielder Pat Burrell and starting pitcher Kyle Kendrick, Philadelphia returns largely the same 92-70 squad that went on to win the 2008 World Series. 

Phillies ace, Cole Hamels, is said to be ready for game action after dealing with elbow soreness this spring, but Charlie Manuel is taking no risks with his young lefty. Instead Manuel will send veteran righty Bret Myers to the hill this evening, giving him his third consecutive opening day start for the franchise.

Myers had an up and down season last year, concluding it with a 10-13 record and 4.55 ERA. The Florida native went 0-2 versus the Braves in 2008, pitching 8.2 innings and giving up seven earned runs. Braves staples Chipper Jones and Brain McCann have been particularly hard on Myers, recording 20 hits, five doubles, four home runs, 10 base on balls, and 13 RBI in 57 at bats against him.

Last year the Phillies worked Atlanta over, winning 14 of the 18 games played between the two squads. However, Philadelphia went just 5-4 against the Braves at Citizens Bank Park.

Bodoglife.com's Atlanta Braves vs Philadelphia Phillies Baseball Predictions:

Braves +1.5 (-180), +120 (Moneyline), Over 8.5 (-105)

Phillies -1.5 (+160), -130 (Moneyline), Under 8.5 (-115)

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