Atlanta @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 10, 2011 ) Atlanta 1, Philadelphia 14

THE STORY: It's easy to understand why Cliff Lee might shed a tear after turning the page on the calendar. After all, Lee followed an undefeated June with a winless July. Now, with a brilliant August in his rearview mirror, Lee will make his first start in September on Monday when the Philadelphia Phillies open a three-game set against the visiting Atlanta Braves. The Phillies lead the second-place Braves by 7 1/2 games in the National League East, but the latter holds an 8 1/2-game advantage over the St. Louis Cardinals in the race for the wild card.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSS (Atlanta), CSN (Philadelphia)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Derek Lowe (9-12, 4.52 ERA) vs. Phillies LHP Cliff Lee (15-7, 2.59 ERA)

Lowe has alternated wins and losses over his last six starts. The 38-year-old righthander handcuffed the Washington Nationals in his last outing on Wednesday, permitting one run on three hits in six innings. Lowe holds an 8-6 career mark against the Phillies, but has dropped two of three decisions this season.

Lee collected his sixth straight win and nearly secured his sixth complete-game shutout of the season in his last trip to the mound. The 33-year-old southpaw capped a perfect August by scattering six hits and striking out seven in a 3-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds. While Lee has been dominant of late, he has struggled against the Braves. Lee has dropped both decisions this season and is just 1-3 in his career versus the division rival.

ABOUT THE BRAVES (82-57): With his team set to embark on an eight-game road trip, Atlanta's Martin Prado wasn't about to let the Los Angeles Dodgers use their brooms at Turner Field. Prado singled home the winning run in the ninth inning as the Braves avoided being swept in a three-game series for the first time this season with a 4-3 triumph on Sunday. Prado had four hits in the weekend series versus the Dodgers, but has four hits - and six strikeouts - in his career against Lee. Brian McCann has struggled of late, collecting just two hits in his last 20 at-bats. He has fared well versus Lee, going 5-for-12 with a pair of doubles. Veteran reliever Peter Moylan was activated from the disabled list after missing the majority of the season with a balky back. Righthander Tommy Hanson, who is on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis, will test himself with a long-toss session on Monday.

ABOUT THE PHILLIES (88-48): Manager Charlie Manuel's club was stretched to 14 innings on Sunday en route to losing two of three over the weekend to the Florida Marlins. Although Mike Cameron ended the lengthy contest with a bases-loaded walk in the final frame, the primary topic of conversation has seemed to center around Hunter Pence being ruled out on fan interference - despite the game being played in Miami. Pence was originally awarded a double in the sixth inning, but umpires saw it differently after a video review. Pence will look to exact some revenge on Sunday when he faces Lowe, against whom he is 6-for-14 in his career. Slugger Ryan Howard had a two-run single on Sunday, but has struggled against Lowe. He is just 10-for-45 and has yet to homer versus the veteran hurler.

FINAL PITCH: “It should have been a home run." - Alex Dicandio, who was the fan involved in the controversial play involving Pence.