The set-up: Philly manager Gabe Kapler said he plans to lighten the load of the starting rotation by leaning heavily on his relievers this season but raised eyebrows by lifting starter Aaron Nola in the bottom of the sixth inning after just 68 pitches with a commanding 5-0 lead on opening Day. The new manager saw his bullpen implode, as five relievers allowed seven runs in just 3 1/3 innings of an 8-5 loss! However. Philly's bullpen was better last night, as eight relievers allowed just one run over seevn innings as the Philles won 5-4 in 11 innings. Philadelphia signed first baseman Carlos Santana (57 HRs the last two years with Cleveland) in the off-season in hopes that he would provide a power bat in the heart of their lineup. Santana homered and drove in the go-ahead run in Friday's 5-4, 11-inning victory, while teammate Rhys Hoskins (18 HRs in 50 games last year as a rookie) went deep for the first time in 2018. Atlanta committed three errors and left nine runners on base Friday. First baseman Freddie Freeman walked three times for the second consecutive game, while shortstop Dansby Swanson collected three hits, drove in a run and scored once. The loss was particularly painful for Atlanta, which lost Kurt Suzuki when he was hit by a pitch in the right hand Friday - one day after fellow catcher Tyler Flowers left Thursday's opener in the first inning with an oblique injury that landed him on the disabled list.

The pitching matchup: Vince Velasquez (2017: 2-7, 5.13 ERA) will get the ball for the Phillies, while the Braves will give Brandon McCarthy (2017: 6-4, 3.98) his first start with his latest team. Velasquez strained a flexor muscle early last season and surgery to repair a vascular issue in a finger ended his season in August. Velasquez was 8-6 with a 4.12 ERA in 24 starts in 2016 but in just 15 starst last year, saw his ERA go up a run (team was only in all of his starts). He allowed 15 HR in those 15 starts (total of only 72 innings) but finished spring training at 2-2 with a 2.51 ERA in five starts (14 1/3 innings). McCarthy was acquired from the Dodgers in the Matt Kemp trade this off-season, after the 34-year-old McCarthy battled shoulder, knee and finger injuries that limited him to three regular-season appearances after July 20. It short-circuited a good season in which McCarthy posted a 3.12 ERA with 58 strikeouts in his first 14 starts. Limited to 14 total appearances in 2015-16, McCarthy has been healthy this spring and finished camp with a 3.45 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP while holding opponents to a .193 batting average.

The pick: The two teams combined to use 16 pitchers Friday, so both clubs could use a solid outing from their respective starters. Velasquez gave up six hits in seven shutout innings in his only 2017 appearance against Atlanta, while McCarthy, who began his career in the American League, has faced the Phillies just three times, going 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA. He had a no-decision last season, allowing eight hits and four runs in five innings.I'm sticking with the home team here and making the Braves a 10* play.