PHILADELPHIA -- The National League East bottom-feeders from 2016 haven't really done much in the first 2 1/2 weeks of 2017 to prove they won't be there again.
The Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves open a three-game set at Citizens Bank Park on Friday night with identical 6-9 records, tied for last in the division.
Jeremy Hellickson (2-0, 1.59 ERA) takes the hill for the Phillies against the ageless Bartolo Colon (1-1, 4.24).
Philadelphia returns home after a six-game trip to face the Washington Nationals and New York Mets.