(SportsNetwork.com) - Shelby Miller goes after his third straight win on Saturday when the Atlanta Braves continue their three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
Miller has been tremendous for the Braves, going 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in three starts. Miller tossed five scoreless innings in his debut with the team, but did not get a decision. He's responded with consecutive wins, including an impressive effort versus the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.
The right-hander, who was acquired from St. Louis this offseason as part of the Jason Heyward deal, gave up two runs and five hits to the Blue Jays over six innings. He has only allowed three earned runs in 16 innings this season.
"He's pretty good," Toronto manager John Gibbons said of the 24-year-old hurler. "I remember last year, we were on a nice little roll and he kind of started our tailspin when St. Louis came to town. ... He's a tough assignment and when you spot him five runs, guys like that, it's rare that you come back."
Miller has faced the Phillies three times and is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, will counter with righty David Buchanan, who has been awful. Buchanan fell to 0-3 in Washington on Sunday, as the Nationals reached him for three runs and six hits in five innings. He also walked three batters, but did see his ERA dip to 9.22.
Buchanan allowed 11 runs in 8 2/3 innings over his first two starts including six over three innings in his season debut at Boston.
"Against the Red Sox, I wasn't really throwing strikes. I was falling behind. Eventually that's going to catch up to you," Buchanan said. "But today I thought I was throwing the ball in the zone. Had some tough breaks."
In two starts versus the Braves Buchanan is 0-1 with a 4.00 ERA.
Philly can only hope Buchanan delivers the way Aaron Harang did in Friday's opener. Despite getting a no-decision in Philadelphia's 1-0 win, Harang scattered two hits over eight scoreless innings.
"I was really on," said Harang. "Once I was able to establish the strike zone, I was good to go, and everything just fell into place."
Philadelphia manufactured a run in the bottom of the ninth to get the win, as Ben Revere's dribbler to first base scored Freddy Galvis, who opened the frame with a singe, advanced to second on a Cesar Hernandez sacrifice bunt and moved to third on Jim Johnson's wild pitch.
"We didn't do anything against Harang," said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez. "He did a good job keeping us off balance."
The Braves were 11-8 versus the Phillies last season, going 8-2 in Philadelphia.