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Phillies vs. Braves: Postseason Rivalry Reignites
28 Sep
Summary
- Phillies and Braves begin their third postseason series in five years.
- Starting pitchers for the Phillies remain uncertain; Braves' Chris Sale is set.
- Both teams' offenses have shown recent struggles in September.
The Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves are set to clash in the postseason for the third time in the last five years, continuing their heated NL East rivalry. The best-of-three Wild Card Series begins Tuesday afternoon in Atlanta, with Game 1 scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.
Atlanta enters the playoffs as division champions for the seventh time in nine seasons. However, recent history shows the Phillies have eliminated the Braves in the NL Division Series in both 2022 and 2023, despite Atlanta's 100-plus regular-season wins.
The starting pitcher for the Phillies remains undecided, as Zack Wheeler pitched on Sunday to secure their playoff spot. Options include rookie Andrew Painter, Jesús Luzardo, or Aaron Nola. For the Braves, veteran left-hander Chris Sale will take the mound, coming off an impressive regular season with a 2.16 ERA.
Offensively, both teams have experienced slumps in September. The Phillies' lineup, shuffled by manager Don Mattingly, has been among MLB's worst in batting average and slugging percentage. The Braves' offense, despite strong performances from players like Ronald Acuña Jr., has also struggled to maintain consistency.
Key injuries include Luis Arraez for the Phillies with a sprained ankle and Lane Thomas for the Braves with an intercostal strain, potentially impacting their availability. The Phillies' bullpen has been a consistent concern throughout the season, while the Braves have added Robert Suarez to their late-inning relief options.
