s in his first two seasons in charge, but this year they have already been defeate

PHILADELPHIA -- Though the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves are currently in the bottom two slots in the National League East, theres a vastly different feeling inside the two clubhouses.An 8-2 win on Monday night was the sixth in seven games for the Phillies (38-46), who were 8-28 from May 20-June 26 thanks to a struggling offense that has suddenly woken up.After averaging 3.11 in its first 71 games of the year, Philadelphia has scored seven-or-more runs in five of its last eight contests and is averaging exactly six runs per game over its last 13.I cant complain about the hitting anymore, manager Pete Mackanin joked after Mondays win. The hitting continues, its great to see.Particularly hot of late has been outfielder Peter Bourjos, who extended his career-best hitting streak to 13 games with a 3-for-3 outing on Monday, raising his average to .278. It had been as low as .217 before the streak began on June 21, but since then hes 24-for-50 (.480) with 13 runs scored and six more batted in.Who ever thought Bourjos had a chance to hit .300 at the start of the year? Mackanin asked. Hes on fire, its good to see that.The Braves (28-55), meanwhile, have lost eight of their last 11 and have the second-worst record in the majors, ahead of only Minnesota (27-55).Interim manager Brian Snitker was searching for positives after the Phillies torched starter Joel De La Rosa for a seven-run second inning on Monday night, a 10-minute strike from which his team never recovered.We come back pretty good as a ballclub but thats hard to overcome when you give up that much, he said. Well regroup tomorrow and try to come out and win the series.On Tuesday, the Phillies will be looking to get starter Zach Eflin his first career major league victory as the 22-year-old right-hander takes the mound for the fifth time since his June 10 callup.After allowing nine runs in 2 2/3 innings in his debut, Eflins only given up seven runs (five earned) in 17 2/3 innings in his last three, for a 2.55 ERA; his last time out, the Phillies won a game that he started for the first time, a 9-8 victory over Arizona that was a no-decision for Eflin.The Braves counter with righty Mike Foltynewicz, who will make his second start since returning from the 15-day DL (bone spurs in elbow) looking to go further than he made it his last time out -- after throwing 61 pitches through three innings against the Miami Marlins on June 30, Foltynewiczs evening ended after a one-hour rain delay.The 24-year-old, who had a 5.64 ERA over his first two years in the majors, has a 3.72 ERA in seven starts this season thanks to improving his ground ball-to-fly ball ratio and cutting down on his walks.Sneakers NZ For Sale .Y. - General manager Billy King says the Brooklyn Nets are looking to add a big man and confirmed the team worked out centre Jason Collins, who would become the first openly gay active NBA player if signed. 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The Oilers signed Bryzgalov to a one-year $2 million contract last Friday after shedding payroll by dealing defenceman Ladislav Smid to the Flames.The Premier League title race heats up on Super Sunday as Arsenal face leaders Leicester City and Tottenham travel to Manchester City live on Sky Sports.The top-of-the-table clashes will provide more clues about who will be lifting the Premier League trophy in May.Here, we pick three reasons for each of the top four sides to cheer - and three causes for concern... 1st LEICESTER (53 pts)Reasons to cheer Riyad Mahrez scored his 14th goal of the season in Leicesters 3-1 win over Man City Leicester could lose every one of their remaining games and they would still have exceeded expectations. Winning the title would go down as one of the greatest achievements in football history, and history suggests Champions League qualification is almost assured. Only one team (Chelsea 1985/86) has finished outside of the top four when accumulating 53 or more points from 25 games.Leicester possess the Premier Leagues outstanding performers in Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez, and their recent form suggests they have plenty more to offer. The duo have scored 32 of the Foxes 47 goals, with Vardys alone worth a league-high 18 points. Even Leicesters closest rivals have found the duo impossible to stop. Are Leicester the new Forest? Exploring the similarities between Claudio Ranieris Leicester and Brian Cloughs Nottingham Forest. While Spurs, Arsenal and City juggle cup and European campaigns with their Premier League commitments, Leicesters schedule is far kinder. Ranieris men have already been knocked out of the domestic cups, so they have no other distractions and get the luxury of a two-week break after Sundays clash with Arsenal. During that time, Spurs play three times and Arsenal and City play twice each.Causes for concern Claudio Ranieris Leicester side face a test of their mental strength Can they cope when the pressure is cranked up? Norwich in 1992/93 and Newcastle in 1995/96 show the precedent for title-challenging underdogs fading near the finish line, and Arsene Wenger has already started pressurising the Foxes. Now Im sure that everyone will take them very seriously, especially in the media, so they will be under pressure as well, he said after Leicesters 2-0 win over Liverpool.Leicester have already played seven of their 10 fixtures against the Premier Leagues top six, but they still face a daunting run-in. In their final three games of the campaign, the Foxes travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United before hosting Roberto Martinezs resurgent Everton and finishing the campaign away to champions Chelsea. It could be a decisive run of games. Arsenal to outfox them? Did Arsenals 5-2 win in September provide the template for beating Leicester? Leicester have only let in two goals in their last five Premier League games, but they have conceded more times (27) than any of their top four rivals. Its the same number as 10th-placed Watford and more than seventh-placed Southampton. Recent improvements have been encouraging, but could defensive frailties resurface?2nd TOTTENHAM (48 pts)Reasons to cheer Toby Alderweireld has impressed in the heart of Tottenhams defence In contrast to Leicester, Tottenham have the best defensive record in the Premier League. Spurs have conceded just 19 goals in 25 games, and they appear to be just as strong with Kevin Wimmer partnering Tony Alderweireld in place of the injured Jan Vertonghen.Over the course of the last 10 games, Spurs are the Premier Leagues in-form team. Mauricio Pochettinos side have taken 22 points from a possible 30 in that time, one more than Leicester and five more than Arsenal and City. As we enter the final months of the season, that momentum could be crucial. Rise of Pochettino We examine the rise of Mauricio Pochettino and how he is transforming Spurs. The term Spursy has been used to describe Tottenhams tendency to mess things up at critical moments in the past but they look far tougher under Pochettino, who has instilled a certain steeliness at White Hart Lane. I think we are different people now, the former Southampton manager said recently. We live in the present, and the group of players, the staff, the club, the president and the supporters believe we are strong and we can win every game. Causes for concern Tottenham do not have much competition for Harry Kane up front Spurs will be keeping their fingers crossed that Harry Kane avoids injury, but the lack of other options up front could be an issue. Heung-Min Son is their only other player to have played as a central striker, but the South Korean international is more comfortable on the flanks and has only scored two Premier League goals this season.Tottenhams high-intensity playing style has been extremely effective this season but can they sustain it? Premier League tracking data shows only Bournemouth have covered more ground and sprinted more times than Spurs. With the threat of fatigue, their small squad faces a test of stamina in the final months of the campaign. WATCH: Man City v Spurs 2010 We look back on Tottenhams famous trip to the Etihad Stadium in 2010. This is also unfamiliar territory for the club. It has been decades since Spurs challenged for the title let alone won it. They look stronger under Pochettino, but the lack of experieence could yet undermine their challenge.dddddddddddd.3rd ARSENAL (48 pts)Reasons to cheer Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil could play a key role in the title race for Arsenal The return of Alexis Sanchez boosts Arsenals chances. The Chile international missed two months due to injury, but there have been glimpses of his best form since he returned at the end of January. The former Barcelona man was the Gunners player of the season in 2014/15. Wenger will be hoping for more of the same in the final weeks of the campaign.Petr Cech gives Arsenal title-winning knowhow, something they have sorely lacked in recent years. The 33-year-old won four Premier League trophies in 10 seasons with Chelsea and remains one of the best goalkeepers around. He has already had a positive impact at the Emirates - could his influence get them over the line? The Sanchez factor Why Alexis Sanchez could hold the key to Arsenals title challenge. Mesut Ozil is in a league of his own in terms of creativity. The German is closing in on a Premier League assists record and he has created 100 chances in total - 23 more than any other Premier League player. He has also accounted for 22 clear-cut chances - eight more than anyone else. More of the same could give Arsenal the edge.Causes for concern Mathieu Flamini reacts after missing a chance for Arsenal against Chelsea Poor finishing has been a theme of Arsenals season, and the issue was clearer than ever in their recent 0-0 draw with Southampton, when they spurned a glut of opportunities. According to Opta, the Gunners have converted just 32.1 per cent of their clear-cut chances this season, giving them the lowest success rate in the Premier League. If they dont find some cutting edge, Ozils creativity will be wasted.The Gunners have some tough away trips coming up. They face Manchester United at Old Trafford and Tottenham at White Hart Lane in the next month, and further ahead they have tricky games at Everton, West Ham and Manchester City. Alan Smith questions whether Arsenal have the mental fight to end their wait for a title Cech or no Cech, there are still questions over Arsenals title-winning mentality. The Gunners have blown plenty of good opportunities to win it in recent seasons, and there are still lingering doubts over whether they can cope when the pressures on.4th MANCHESTER CITY (47 pts)Reasons to cheer Manuel Pellegrini led Manchester City to the Premier League title in 2013/14 Manchester City are the only top-four side to have won the title in the last decade and they know what it takes to go the distance. Manuel Pellegrinis side had to contend with fierce competition from Liverpool and Chelsea in 2013/14 and they came out on top. That experience could serve them well.Sergio Agueros injury problems have been a major issue for City this season, but he is fit and firing now and he could have a major say in the title race. A run of six goals in his last four Premier League games shows the Argentina international is at the peak of his powers.Vincent Kompany is also on his way back from injury. The skipper resumed training last week, and his comeback will give Pellegrini a major boost. Citys win percentage with Kompany is 77.8 per cent compared to just 43.8 per cent without him, and they kept seven clean sheets in nine games with him in the side compared to just four in 16 without him.Causes for concern Manchester City have lost three Premier League home games Announcing Pep Guardiolas appointment midway through the season always looked like a gamble, and the 3-1 defeat to Leicester suggests it may already distracting the squad.City have a dismal record against their top-six rivals this season. They have not won a single one of their seven games against the Foxes, Arsenal, Spurs, West Ham and Manchester United, and they still have a number of big games remaining.Citys home form is another major cause for concern. Pellegrinis side only lost two Premier League home games in his first two seasons in charge, but this year they have already been defeated by West Ham, Liverpool and Leicester. Visitors to the Etihad Stadium will take added belief from those results, knowing City are more vulnerable than in the past.Whos got the upper hand in the title race? Leave your comments below if youre reading online or tweet us @SkyFootball... Get a Sky Sports Day Pass Watch Super Sunday all day for ￡6.99 on NOW TV. No contract requiredAlso See:Key battle: Koscielny v VardyRise of PochettinoAre Leicester the new Forest?Who has the best midfield? ' ' '