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05/27/2004 2:28 AM ET
Phils play host to Braves
Atlanta (22-23) at Philadelphia (25-19), 7:05 p.m. ET
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| Kevin Millwood takes the mound for the Phillies Thursday against the Braves. (H. Rumph Jr./AP)
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Anyone who predicted the NL East as a two-horse race between the Phillies and Marlins would be wise not to overlook the reigning division champs.
Those steady Braves, winners of every NL East title since they've been eligible, enter the series 3 1/2 games behind Philadelphia and Florida -- despite having lost Gary Sheffield, Javy Lopez and Greg Maddux to free agency and missing Chipper Jones for a spell.
But the Braves continue to play well, along with the Mets, putting the NL East up for grabs.
"It's foolish to count the Braves out," said Randy Wolf, scheduled to start Friday's game. "All of us knew from day one that the teams to beat because of what they've done are the Marlins and the Braves. They may be down, but they are confident."
Wolf recalled the 2001 season, when the Phillies led by eight games in June, yet saw the Braves come back and win the division.
"They have the experience and the knowledge of how to win," he said. "The only people who have underestimated them so far is the mass media. I think everybody in the division knows what they've capable of doing."
Kevin Millwood starts Thursday still looking for his first win against his former team. He went 0-4 with a 7.77 ERA against Atlanta last season, when the Braves were pounding teams into submission with offense. Two years ago, they won in a more traditional manner, with pitching.
"They've won 12 division titles because they know how to win, and they find a way to win," said Wolf. "It doesn't matter whether it's the traditional way on pitching and defense, or the unconventional way by outslugging people.
"They are always a dangerous team."
Pitching matchup
ATL: RHP Jaret Wright
2-5, 4.25 ERA in 2004
Hasn't faced PHI in 2004
0-1, 3.18 in 2003 vs. PHI
0-1, 3.18 lifetime vs. PHI
PHI: RHP Kevin Millwood
4-2, 4.29 ERA in 2004
Hasn't faced PHI in 2004
0-4, 7.77 in 2003 vs. ATL
0-4, 7.77 lifetime vs. ATL
On the Internet
 MLB.TV
 Gameday Audio
Gameday
Official game notes
On television
ATL: TBS
PHI: CSN
On radio
ATL: WSB 750 AM
PHI: WPEN 950 AM
On deck
Friday: vs. Atlanta, 7:05 p.m. ET
Saturday: vs. Atlanta, 1:20 p.m. ET
Sunday: vs. Atlanta, 1:35 p.m. ETKen Mandel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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