Category: Phillies/MLB

• What you should know
• The Phillies season is over after losing to the Braves 6-2 in Game 3 of their wild-card series. All the Phillies’ weaknesses were on display.
• The Braves now move on the National League divisional series to face the Los Angeles Dodgers.
• Here are photos from the Game 3 loss.

---

// Timestamp 10/01/26 11:31pm

Don Mattingly on his own future with Phillies and starting Aaron Nola

---

// Timestamp 10/01/26 11:12pm

‘This team needs changes’: Reaction to Phillies season-ending loss to the Braves

NBC analyst John Kruk: “People are going to say the Braves wanted it more… The Phillies battled, but they just got beat by a better team.”

NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Ricky Bottalico: “This is disappointing in so many different ways. It’s not just because of Aaron Nola, it’s because the hitting didn’t show up [and a] lot of things didn’t come to fruition. This is a team that it may have been their last chance as is.”

Jayson Stark, The Athletic: “Watching Otto Kemp make the last out of a postseason series sends a fitting message to Phillies management. Depth. They’ve had way too little of it in every aspect of their roster construction. With an aging roster, that can’t happen again.

94.1 WIP’s James Seltzer: “This team needs changes. Big changes. This era of the Phillies has to end and a new one has to start. This group has gone as far as they’re going to go together. They’re just not good enough.”

— Rob Tornoe

---

// Pinned

// Timestamp 10/01/26 11:02pm

Phillies lose Game 3 to the Braves 6-2

ATLANTA – It ended with Otto Kemp, whose last major-league at-bat came on May 20, striking out against Chris Sale.

The Phillies season is over.

Another year that began with the promise of a star-laden $322 million payroll ended with a 6-2 drubbing by the Braves in winner-takes-all Game 3 of the wild-card series.

The Phillies have made the postseason in five consecutive years but haven’t won a postseason series since the 2023 NL division series against the Braves.

Atlanta will move on to face the Dodgers in the division series.

— Scott Lauber

---

// Timestamp 10/01/26 10:41pm

Braves ace Chris Sale enters the game

ATLANTA – The Braves aren’t messing around.

Despite holding a four-run lead, they brought in ace Chris Sale with two out in the eighth inning to face Bryce Harper. And Sale struck out Harper on four pitches, the last of which was so far outside that it was in the right-handed batter’s box.

The ball skipped away from catcher Drake Baldwin, but Harper didn’t run immediately and was thrown out at first base.

And the Phillies are down to their last three outs.

— Scott Lauber

---

// Timestamp 10/01/26 10:28pm

Phillies pull Zack Wheeler and immediate regret it.

The Phillies pulled Zach Wheeler going into the bottom of the seventh inning and replaced him with reliever Jonathan Bowlan, his first appearance since Sept. 17.

Matt Olsen made the Phillies pay, crushing a solo bomb off Bowlan to extend the Braves’ lead 6-1.

Wheeler’s final line in Game 3? He gave up three hits and walked three in four innings, giving up two earned runs while striking our three.

— Rob Tornoe

---

// Timestamp 10/01/26 10:18pm

Braves ace Chris Sale warming up in the bullpen

---

// Timestamp 10/01/26 10:09pm

Phillies on the board

ATLANTA – It took three games, but we finally got the long-awaited Bryce Harper-Robert Suarez postseason rematch.

Harper took Suarez deep in Game 5 of the 2023 NL Championship Series for his famous pennant-clinching “Bedlam at the Bank” homer. And when they met again in the sixth inning here, Harper roped a double into the right-field corner.

Of course, the Phillies were trailing by five runs at the time.

But Harper’s double followed a single by Kyle Schwarber, who scored one batter later on Alec Bohm’s groundout. The Braves happily traded the out for the run and hold a 5-1 lead with nine outs to get.

— Scott Lauber

---

// Timestamp 10/01/26 9:40pm

Joey Votto makes epically bad Phillies prediction

While the Atlanta Braves jumped out to the early lead, NBC analyst and former NL MVP Joey Votto offered words of optimism with Phillies ace Zack Wheeler on the mound.

“As good as Zack Wheeler looks, this game is as in play as it gets,” Votto said during the broadcast. “I do not see the Braves scoring any more runs the rest of the way.”

Four pitches later, Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies crushed a Wheeler fastball over the wall in right-center field, extending the Braves’ lead to 5-0.

“Joey, I’ve had a lot of fun working with you over these last three days, man,” said fellow analyst C.J. Nitkowski. “Do not check your mentions.”

— Rob Tornoe

---

// Timestamp 10/01/26 9:31pm

Braves extend lead with two-run bomb off Zack Wheeler

ATLANTA — The nightmare continues.

After a nine-pitch walk to Austin Riley, Zack Wheeler left a fastball over the middle of the plate for Ozzie Albies, who deposited it over the right-center field wall. It’s 5-0 Braves in the fourth, and the Phillies’ at-bats have hardly been competitive so far.

— Lochlahn March

---

// Timestamp 10/01/26 9:20pm

Braves turn to bullpen after Ray Kerr dominates Phillies

ATLANTA — That’s it for Braves opener Ray Kerr, who is lifted with one out in the fourth for Grant Holmes.

Kerr did his job, shutting down the Phillies for three innings and leaving a runner on first for Holmes, who will face Alec Bohm. The Phillies saw Holmes four times this year, and he held them to a 3.05 ERA. He is expected to be the bulk pitcher for Atlanta the rest of the way, as the Phillies are still staring down a 3-0 deficit.

— Lochlahn March

---

// Timestamp 10/01/26 9:13pm

Not a great time to see Chase Utley in a Dodgers hoodie

---

// Timestamp 10/01/26 9:06pm

Were Phillies wrong to turn to Aaron Nola on short rest?

ATLANTA – It’s fair to wonder, especially now, about the potential toll that pitching on two days’ rest took on Aaron Nola.

Nola, starting on full rest in Game 3, exhibited none of his typical precision command in lasting only 1 ⅔ innings. Ten of his first 13 pitches were balls. J.T. Realmuto wanted the 14th pitch low and away. It ran back over the plate for a three-run homer to Michael Harris II.

Last Saturday, in their desperation to clinch a wild-card spot before the last game of the season, the Phillies started Nola on two days’ rest. He lasted only one inning in a loss.

The next day, during the Phillies’ clinching celebration, I asked Nola how his arm felt one day after starting on short rest for the first time in his career.

“A little bit more [sore] than after a bullpen,” he said. “A little bit more, for sure. Obviously it was a game situation. I could throw 40 to 50 pitches in a bullpen, and it’s never going to be the game situation, [with] the adrenaline, rush.

“But I feel good.”

Nola threw a bullpen session here Monday without issue. But he was able to face only nine batters and get five outs in the winner-take-all Game 3 before being lifted for lefty Tim Mayza, who got the final out of the second inning.

Zack Wheeler, on three days’ rest, is on for the third inning with the Phillies trailing 3-0.

— Scott Lauber

---

// Timestamp 10/01/26 8:55pm

Aaron Nola’s night is over

ATLANTA — Zack Wheeler has begun throwing in the Phillies’ bullpen in left field.

After Aaron Nola allowed a two-out single up the middle to nine-hole hitter Dominic Smith, his night ended there. Lefty Tim Mayza entered the game tasked with finishing off the second inning, while Wheeler continues to warm.

Wheeler will be appearing on short rest, after throwing 97 pitches on Sept. 27 to help the Phillies finally clinch a playoff berth in Game 162.

— Lochlahn March

---

// Timestamp 10/01/26 8:49pm

Ray Kerr cruising against the Phillies

ATLANTA — The Phillies haven’t figured out Braves opener Ray Kerr.

The lefty, who was only promoted to Atlanta’s major league roster on Aug. 16, did his job of handling the top of the Phillies’ order, outside of a single from Kyle Schwarber. He returned for a 1-2-3 second, as that single remains the Phillies’ only hit of the night so far. It’s unknown how long Kerr is expected to remain in the game, but if he continues to be this efficient — 28 pitches — it could be another turn through the lineup.

The Braves have one hit, too, but it happened to be a three-run homer. The Phillies offense has some work to do.

— Lochlahn March

---

// Timestamp 10/01/26 8:32pm

Nightmare start for Aaron Nola

ATLANTA – It’s already a nightmare start for Aaron Nola and the Phillies.

Nola has not had his command early. After a first-pitch flyout from Drake Baldwin, he issued back-to-back walks to Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson. He started Michael Harris II off with consecutive balls, too, before Harris went down to get a sinker below the zone and sent it 387 feet out of the stadium.

It’s 3-0 Braves after just one inning.

— Lochlahn March

---

// Timestamp 10/01/26 7:56pm

MLB releases full NLDS schedule

If the Phillies defeat the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 Thursday night, they’ll advance to the National League divisional series and take on the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Here is the full NLDS schedule:

• Game 1: Braves/Phillies at Dodgers, Saturday, Oct. 3, 4 p.m. (FS1)
• Game 2: Braves/Phillies at Dodgers, Sunday, Oct. 4, 8 p.m. (FS1)
• Game 3: Dodgers at Braves/Phillies, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 6 p.m. (FS1)
• Game 4*: Dodgers at Braves/Phillies, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 6 p.m. (FS1)
• Game 5*: Braves/Phillies at Dodgers, Friday, Oct. 9, 8 p.m. (Fox)

* – if needed

— Rob Tornoe

---

// Timestamp 10/01/26 7:49pm

‘A cool ride’: Justin Crawford enjoying his postseason debut

ATLANTA — Justin Crawford’s father, Carl, was six years into his career before he got his first taste of postseason baseball.

Carl Crawford debuted for Tampa Bay in 2002, but didn’t play his first game in October until 2008. Fans of his son’s team know well how that story ended: with the Phillies beating the Rays in five games in the World Series, and a parade down Broad Street.

Justin, 23, didn’t have to wait nearly that long. His first experience in the postseason is coming in his rookie year. He started in Wednesday’s Game 2 and is also in the lineup against Atlanta for Game 3, batting ninth and playing center field.

“It’s been really cool,” Crawford said. “At the end of the day, I’ve kind of had to remind myself it’s still baseball. The game stays the same. So go out there, compete, work your tail off, and leave it all out there on the field and see what happens. I would say the biggest thing was definitely the adrenaline, and just the adrenaline factor and seeing how much that kind of played. But it was a really cool feeling to be out there and competing.”

He’s also been enjoying sharing the experience with some of the other rookies on the team. Alex McFarlane and Andrew Painter both played key roles in relief in Wednesday’s Game 2 victory, with McFarlane getting a big out to end the seventh and Painter pitching the final three innings to earn the win.

“Obviously, all three of us came up playing with each other,” Crawford said. “And especially me and Alex, we were drafted the same year and really have played with each and every level with each other. It’s really cool being able to go out there and compete with those guys, and being able to enjoy the moment with them as well. It’s really fun to be able to go out there and just contribute anyway we can. It’s been a cool ride.”

— Lochlahn March

---

// Timestamp 10/01/26 7:19pm

Photos: Phillies hit the field for warmups

---

// Timestamp 10/01/26 7:08pm

Mattingly: ‘All hands on deck’ for Game 3

ATLANTA — A couple of hours before game time, Phillies manager Don Mattingly and Braves counterpart Walt Weiss both used the same phrase when addressing questions about the availability of certain pitchers in Thursday night’s decisive Game 3.

“I’d say all hands on deck today,” Mattingly said when asked if Zack Wheeler will be available in the bullpen on three days’ rest.

It’s a somewhat ironic choice of words for Mattingly, given the number of Phillies relievers he seems determined to avoid using.

The point stands, though. Aaron Nola will start the Phillies off. From there, everything will be depend on the score and the situation. If the Phillies need Zack Wheeler or even Game 1 starter Jesus Luzardo to throw, I wouldn’t expect Mattingly to hesitate.

— David Murphy

---

// Timestamp 10/01/26 6:17pm

Duran’s availability will be a game-time decision; Sosa won’t be 100%

ATLANTA — Jhoan Duran’s availability to pitch in the Phillies’ win-or-go-home Game 3 of the wild-card series will be determined in the same way that it was for Game 2.

Duran will play catch and report back on how he feels.

“I’m expecting him to be good,” interim manager Don Mattingly said here Thursday in a pregame meeting with reporters.

But Mattingly was hopeful of getting a thumbs-up from the star closer and the medical staff before Game 2, too. Instead, Duran wasn’t ready to pitch after throwing 27 pitches over two innings and giving up a go-ahead three-run homer to Austin RIley in a 5-3 loss in Game 1.

Mattingly clarified that Duran wasn’t injured but rather sore after the heavier-than-usual workload in Game 1. It marked only the second time all season that the Phillies called on Duran to get more than three outs in a game.

“It was a couple of different factors, without having to go into all of them,” Mattingly said. “But mainly just he was beat up, arm-wise. Because he pitched the last game [of the regular season], too.”

Meanwhile, infielder Edmundo Sosa went through an early workout to test his injured groin. He passed the test and will be in the lineup, although Mattingly noted Sosa won’t be able to run full speed.

— Scott Lauber

---

// Timestamp 10/01/26 6:02pm

All-Star Brandon Marsh starting an elimination game on the bench

ATLANTA — Remember when Brandon Marsh started in right field for the National League in the All-Star Game?

Three months later, he isn’t in the Phillies’ lineup for an elimination game.

Amid a deep second-half slump, Marsh fell into a platoon in which he typically starts only against right-handed pitchers. But he will begin Game 3 of the wild-card series on the bench here Thursday night, even though Braves lefty Ray Kerr is an opener and expected to pitch only a few innings.

Instead, the Phillies went with righty-hitting Bryan De La Cruz in left field.

“I think De La’s better equipped either way [vs. lefties or righties],” interim manager Don Mattingly said. “And then I’m able to, kind of the way we’re set up, we’re able to pinch hit where we need to pinch hit and give us some sort of leverage.”

It was telling, though, that Mattingly stuck with lefty-hitting Justin Crawford in center field against Kerr. Derek Hill, a right-handed hitter who splits time with Crawford, will be on the bench.

Marsh batted .319/.352/.530 with 15 homers through July 1. After that, he batted .177/.241/.241 with three homers. He came off the bench and got a hit in the ninth inning of Game 1 against the Braves before starting and going 1-for-3 in Game 2.

— Scott Lauber

---

// Timestamp 10/01/26 5:01pm

Phillies and Braves unveil Game 3 lineups

The Phillies are trotting out a very similar lineup to Game 2, especially at the top. The first five spots remain unchanged. Bryan De La Cruz replaces Brandon Marsh in the sixth spot with lefty Ray Kerr starting. The only other change from the last game is J.T. Realmuto and Justin Crawford swapping spots at the bottom of the order.

That also means that Edmundo Sosa, who came up limping after trying to beat out a ground ball in the ninth inning of Wednesday’s win and had to leave the game, is back in the lineup for the Phillies. He’ll bat seventh.

1. Trea Turner (R) SS
2. Kyle Schwarber (L) DH
3. Bryce Harper (L) RF
4. Alec Bohm (R) 1B
5. Bryson Stott (L) 2B
6. Bryan De La Cruz (R) LF
7. Edmundo Sosa (R) 3B
8. J.T. Realmuto (R) C
9. Justin Crawford (L) CF

Meanwhile, the Braves have changes up and down the lineup against righty Aaron Nola after facing lefties in Games 1 and 2.

1. Drake Baldwin (L) C
2. Ronald Acuña Jr. (R) RF
3. Matt Olson (L) 1B
4. Michael Harris II (L) CF
5. Mauricio Dubón (R) SS
6. Mike Yastrzemski (L) LF
7. Austin Riley (R) 3B
8. Ozzie Albies (S) 2B
9. Dominic Smith (L) DH

— Matt Mullin

---

// Timestamp 10/01/26 4:24pm

Phillies stars arrive for Game 3

---

// Timestamp 10/01/26 4:00pm

What the Phillies need from Nola and Wheeler in Game 3

The Phillies have Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler lined up Thursday to face the Braves in Game 3, a game that seemed unlikely to be played when Bryce Harper lost that fly ball in the afternoon sun. But we know what happened next. Atta’ boy, Harper.

Now the Phils have every advantage to become just the fourth team in the new postseason format to win a wild-card series after dropping Game 1.

The key to winning this series was forcing a third game as Atlanta entered the playoffs unsure who would be its third starter. They’ll use Ray Kerr, a reliever who returned in August from Tommy John surgery, as an opener likely followed by Grant Holmes as a bulk reliever.

Now that they’ve reached a decisive Game 3, the Phillies know what they need from their pitchers.

Nola needs to … do what he did last year against the Dodgers in an elimination game. He pitched two innings, navigating one turn through the L.A. lineup in Game 3 of the National League Division Series before passing it to Ranger Suárez. Nola and Suárez combined for one run over seven innings. The plan was then to use Duran for six outs but that wasn’t necessary as the Phils took a seven-run lead in the eighth. The Phils will ask more from Nola than two innings but the task will be the same: Keep it close and get the ball to Wheeler.

Wheeler needs to … do what he always does. The Phillies looked ready to collapse last week until you saw that Wheeler was starting Game 162 and the Phillies just needed a win. Did anyone doubt Wheeler? He threw 97 pitches on Sunday so he’ll be pitching in Game 3 on three days’ rest. How many innings can the Phils expect from him? Two or three would be ideal. If Nola goes four or five and Wheeler gets you to the seventh, then Duran can take it from there.

— Matt Breen

---

// Timestamp 10/01/26 2:43pm

Murphy: Game 2 had that 2022 feeling

The Phillies’ Game 2 win over the Braves was a lot of different things.

It was playoff baseball at its finest, not to mention its most hazardous to a fan’s cardiac health. It was a showcase: of the razor-thin margins that will determine which of these two teams advances, and of the strengths that once again have the Phillies on the verge of an NLDS berth.

Mostly, though, Game 2 was a story. First, of failure. Then, of overcoming it.

Whether the story endures is a question that will be decided on Thursday in a decisive Game 3. The winner will move on to face the Dodgers in a best-of-five series. The loser will move on to face the haunting what-ifs of an early offseason.

But if momentum is real, and if adversity is a buoy, the Phillies have to like their chances, whatever the odds say. There’s also some history. Once upon a time, this Phillies team had a mojo that forced you to believe, regardless of circumstance, that they would overcome.

“It’s in our DNA,” Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber said. “We’re not going to quit.”

— David Murphy

---

// Timestamp 10/01/26 1:54pm

Hayes: Grant Alec Bohm’s wish to be a Phillie for life

ATLANTA — Alec Bohm sat behind a microphone for what could have been the last time as a Phillie on Wednesday morning, and he reflected on his 6½ seasons in the majors as a Phillie, supporting rosters dotted with future Hall of Famers. He will be a free agent this winter, and his inconsistent play combined with his occasional truculence have led to assumptions that he will be moving on.

Then, five hours later, Bohm, hitting in the No. 4 spot, rocked the winning home run in the 10th inning of Game 2 of the wild-card series against the Braves. The Phillies took a 4-3 lead, which held up in the bottom of the inning as rookie Andrew Painter dealt the third of his three scoreless innings, and the season was saved.

With it, Bohm might have saved his future in Philadelphia and erased some of the less jubilant moments of his past.

The Phillies have tried to platoon him, they’ve benched him in the playoffs, they’ve shoved him from the cleanup spot to the bottom of the order, and they’ve put him on the trading block so often he might as well have been a bale of beaver pelts in the Old West. He never much cared, it seemed, until now.

Once a Philly hater, he now desperately wants to be a Phillie for life.

“I would love nothing more than to stay,” he said afterward. “I mean, if you think about it, like, not that often does a guy get to play his whole career in one place.”

Did Wednesday improve his chances?

— Marcus Hayes

---

// Timestamp 10/01/26 12:24pm

Source: Aaron Nola will start decisive Game 3

ATLANTA — Facing their third elimination game in five days, the Phillies will hand the ball to their longest-tenured player.

Aaron Nola will start Thursday night in Game 3 of the best-of-three wild-card series, according to a major league source. The Phillies had not yet announced a starter.

Nola will be on full rest four days after starting on only two days’ rest and lasting only one inning in a desperate gambit to clinch a playoff spot last Saturday night. But the Phillies will take an “all hands on deck” approach to their pitching plan, interim manager Don Mattingly said Wednesday.

Zack Wheeler is expected to be available out of the bullpen on three days’ rest. It’s possible the Phillies could approach the game similar to Game 3 of the division series last year in Los Angeles, when Nola faced eight batters in two innings before yielding to fellow starter Ranger Suárez.

Nola has made 41 career starts against the Braves, posting a 3.71 ERA in 252⅓ innings. In three starts this season, he has a 4.50 ERA, with the Braves batting .250 with a .500 slugging percentage.

In the postseason, Nola has twice faced the Braves in a series that was tied at one game apiece. He allowed one unearned run in six innings against the Braves in Game 3 of the 2022 NL division series and two runs in 5⅔ innings in Game 3 of the same round in 2023. The Phillies won both games — and both series.

— Scott Lauber

---

// Timestamp 10/01/26 12:00pm

Braves will start lefty Ray Kerr

The Atlanta Braves are turning to lefty Ray Kerr as their Game 3 starter.

Kerr, a reliever who returned in August from Tommy John surgery, as an opener likely followed by Grant Holmes as a bulk reliever.

And we thought Don Mattingly’s options were limited this postseason.

Kerr throws in the mid-90s and faced the Phillies twice in September, holding them scoreless over 6⅓ innings in relief in a pair of games the Phils won. Holmes is a middle-of-the rotation starter with a low-90s fastball who blanked the Phillies for six innings in a 1-0 Phils victory on Sept. 7.

Kerr and Holmes handled the Phillies in September. But then again, who didn’t?

The toughest game of the series was always going to be Game 1 against Chris Sale, and the Phillies nearly won. The level of difficultly eased up in Game 2 against Tyler Mahle. The Phillies won that. The key to winning this series was always if the Phils could force a third game, knowing Atlanta could not match their starters. The Phillies got to Game 3. There’s no excuse not to finish the job.

— Matt Breen

---

// Timestamp 10/01/26 11:45am

Braves made a head-scratching decision in Game 2

Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly was picked apart after Game 1, so how about the Braves not using Robert Suarez in Game 2?

Suarez returned from the injured list in September and pitched twice in the season’s final week before being added to the postseason roster. He was lights out as Atlanta’s setup man before injuring his elbow in June and his velocity last week was about where it was preinjury.

So how does Suarez — who the Braves signed before the season to a three-year contract worth $45 million — not get used in Game 2?

The Braves played matchups in the eighth and got burned by left-hander Dylan Lee giving up back-to-back left-on-left homers to Harper and Kyle Schwarber. Suarez, a right-hander, had better numbers this year against lefties than righties. That could’ve been his spot.

In the 10th, Bohm homered against Didier Fuentes, who pitched for a second straight day after giving up a two-run triple in Game 1 to J.T. Realmuto. That could’ve been Suarez, too.

The Phils will take it.

— Matt Breen

---

// Timestamp 10/01/26 11:30am

Game 3 winner will face the Dodgers in the NLDS

The winner of Game 3 between the Phillies and Atlanta Braves will punch a ticket to the National League divisional series to face the No. 2 seed Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Phillies went 2-4 against the defending World Series champs this season, though the last time the two teams faced off was way back in July. It would also be a replay of last year’s NLDS, which the Dodgers handily won 3-1.

Here is the NLDS schedule:

• Game 1: Braves/Phillies at Dodgers, Saturday, Oct. 3, 4 p.m. (FS1)
• Game 2: Braves/Phillies at Dodgers, Sunday, Oct. 4, 8 p.m. (FS1)
• Game 3: Dodgers at Braves/Phillies, Tuesday, Oct. 6, TBD
• Game 4*: Dodgers at Braves/Phillies, Wednesday, Oct. 7, TBD
• Game 5*: Braves/Phillies at Dodgers, Friday, Oct. 9, TBD

* – if needed

— Rob Tornoe

---

Phillies-Braves Game 3: Start time, how to watch and stream

The Phillies face the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of their National League wild-card series Thursday night. The winner moves on to the National League divisional series, the loser’s season is over, and everyone will have to stay up late.

With the three other wild-card series already decided, first pitch of Game 3 between the Phillies and Braves Thursday night is scheduled for 8:15 p.m.

NBC will once again broadcast the game, with John Kruk in the booth alongside play-by-play announcer Matt Vasgersian and fellow analyst C.J. Nitkowski. Joey Votto is back as the on-field analyst, while Ashley ShahAhmadi will report from Truist Park.

Fans can also stream the game on Peacock, NBC’s subscription streaming service. But if you live in and around Philadelphia, you can stream the game for free using a digital antenna, since it’s being broadcast on NBC.

94.1 WIP will broadcast the game on radio, with Scott Franzke and Kevin Stocker on the call.

NBC Sports Philadelphia will offer pre- and postgame coverage, featuring Michael Barkann, Ricky Bottalico, Ben Davis, and former Phillies general manager turned broadcaster Rubén Amaro Jr.

— Rob Tornoe

// Timestamp 10/01/26 0:25am

• What you should know
• The Phillies (1-1) tied up their wild-card series against the Atlanta Braves (1-1) with a 4-3 win in Game 2 Wednesday. Game 3 will take place Thursday.
• Alec Bohm hit the game-winning home run in the 10th inning, while Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper tied it up with back-to-back bombs in the eighth.
• Cristopher Sánchez took the Phillies into the seventh inning, and rookie Andrew Painter closed out the game.
• Matt Breen says fans shouldn’t blame Don Mattingly for the Phillies’ Game 1 collapse. It still might cost Mattingly his job, writes columnist Marcus Hayes.

---

// Pinned

// Timestamp 09/30/26 6:01pm

Alec Bohm, Phillies find their power late to beat the Braves and force a Game 3

ATLANTA — Staring down the potential end of his Phillies tenure, Alec Bohm set up against Didier Fuentes in the 10th inning.

With the Phillies facing elimination from their wild-card series in Game 2, and Bohm nearing free agency, it was fair to wonder as he dug in if it could be his final at-bat in a Phillies uniform. But with one swing, Bohm ensured the season would extend another day. The infielder powered a fastball over the wall in right field to put the Phillies in front for a 4-3 victory over Atlanta in 10 innings on Wednesday.

Backed by gutsy pitching performances from start to finish, the Phillies staved off elimination and forced a Game 3 to decide the series on Thursday. Rookie Andrew Painter pitched the final three innings to get the win in his playoff debut. The Braves advanced the go-ahead run to first on a pair of singles in the 10th, but Painter did not falter. He went right after Dominic Smith, getting two swings on his changeup.

Harper moved back to right field at the trade deadline in a switch he and the Phillies thought might give them the best chance to win in October. But a misread on a fly ball from Drake Baldwin in a crucial moment in the seventh led to it going over his head and Atlanta taking the lead.

He found a way to redeem himself with his bat. Three pitches after Schwarber sent one from Dylan Lee 447 feet, Harper gave a slider a ride to right center to tie the game at 3.

— Lochlahn March

---

// Timestamp 09/30/26 5:50pm

When will Phillies-Braves Game 3 start?

We know the Phillies and Braves will face off in Game 3 Thursday. We just don’t yet know when.

Under most scenarios, Game 3 will start at 2 p.m. Thursday on NBC, just like Games 1 and 2.

If the only remaining series are Phillies-Braves and White Sox-Astros, then Game 3 would start at 8 p.m. on NBC.

Game 3 will also start at 8 p.m. if Phillies-Braves is the only remaining series heading into Thursday.

If the Phillies overcome the odds and manage to defeat the Braves, they’ll advance to the National League divisional series and face the Los Angeles Dodgers. Game 1 would be Saturday at either 4 p.m. on Fox or 9 p.m. on FS1, depending how the wild-card round plays out.

— Rob Tornoe

---

// Timestamp 09/30/26 5:20pm

Phillies win Game 2 in extra innings

ATLANTA – Andrew Painter locked it down.

With a tap of his cap, Painter challenged the final pitch, got a called strike against Dominic Smith, and the Phillies celebrated a come-from-behind 4-3 victory to even their best-of-three wildcard series.

The season will come down to Game 3 on Thursday.

Painter entered in relief in the eighth inning and tossed three scoreless innings. The 23-year-old rookie gave up three hits and struck out the side in the 10th – with singles by Mauricio Dubon and Michael Harris II mixed in.

Alec Bohm’s go-ahead solo homer in the 10th inning was the difference after Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper hit back-to-back solo homers in the eighth inning to tie the game.

The Phillies are expected to have both Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler available to pitch in Game 3. The Braves haven’t named a starter but could counter with right-hander Grant Holmes.

— Scott Lauber

---

// Timestamp 09/30/26 5:06pm

Andrew Painter starts the 10th to close Game 2

// Timestamp 09/30/26 5:06pm

---

// Timestamp 09/30/26 5:03pm

Phillies take the lead in the 10th on Bohm homer

ATLANTA – Alec Bohm whipped his right arm in the air as he rounded the bases.

Bohm gave the Phillies a 4-3 lead in the 10th inning with a two-out solo homer into the right-field bleachers. They rallied from a 3-1 deficit with back-to-back solo homers, also to right field, by Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper in the eighth inning.

Andrew Painter, who held the Braves scoreless in the eighth and ninth innings, will return to the mound to pitch the 10th against dangerous Matt Olson, Mauricio Dubon, and Austin Riley.

— Scott Lauber

---

// Timestamp 09/30/26 4:57pm

Game 2 heads to extra innings, no ‘ghost runners’

The Phillies and Braves enter extra tinnings tied 3-3, but they won’t be joined by any “ghost runners.”

MLB’s designated runner rule puts a player on second base to begin each half-inning if a game is tied after nine innings. The rule was an attempt to preserve pitching staffs and avoid extra-long regular season games.

But during the playoffs, that rule is out the window.

— Rob Tornoe

---

// Timestamp 09/30/26 4:38pm

Andrew Painter makes postseason debut coming out of the bullpen

---

// Timestamp 09/30/26 4:32pm

Phillies tie the Braves on back-to-back homers by Schwarber and Harper

ATLANTA – If ever there was a time for a one-two punch, this was it.

Kyle Schwarber.

Bryce Harper.

Boom. Boom.

Trailing 3-1 in the eighth inning, with the Braves bringing tough lefty reliever Dylan Lee into the game, Schwarber and Harper hit the first back-to-back homers for the Phillies in the postseason since Aaron Rowand and Pat Burrell on Oct. 3, 2007 in Game 1 of the NL division series against Colorado.

Harper’s homer was redemptive after he misjudged a fly ball that went over his head for a go-ahead RBI double by Drake Baldwin in the bottom of the seventh inning.

— Scott Lauber

---

// Timestamp 09/30/26 4:21pm

Braves add another run on Matt Olson sacrifice fly

---

// Timestamp 09/30/26 4:18pm

Braves take the lead after Bryce Harper misplays fly ball

ATLANTA – Bryce Harper froze.

With runners on first and second in the seventh inning of a tie game, Drake Baldwin hit a line drive to right field. Harper misjudged it, and by the time he began to retreat to the right-field wall, the ball went over his head.

Sean Murphy scored from second base with the go-ahead run before the Braves tacked on with a sacrifice fly to take a 3-1 lead and knock Cristopher Sanchez from the game.

The seventh inning began with Sanchez throwing a close pitch to Murphy. Unlike last year, when Sanchez had a borderline pitch to Alex Call go against him in the seventh inning of an elimination game against the Dodgers, plate umpire Adam Beck called a strike. But Murphy challenged with the automatic ball-strike system and got the call overturned.

Murphy overturned another called strike later in the at-bat and drew a leadoff walk. He slid safely into second base on a sacrifice bunt by Ha-Seong Kim to give the Braves a two-on, one-out rally.

Sanchez struck out Ronald Acuna Jr. before Harper’s gaffe on Baldwin’s drive. After Ozzie Albies walked intentionally, Matt Olson lifted the sacrifice fly.

With that, the Phillies lifted Sanchez, who threw 116 pitches, the most he has thrown in a game in his career.

— Scott Lauber

---

// Timestamp 09/30/26 4:05pm

Phillies keep Game 2 tied with clutch double play

ATLANTA — When the Phillies rearranged their infield after the trade deadline, Don Mattingly noted that Alec Bohm’s move to first base was the least of his concerns.

“I’ve seen him enough at first,” Mattingly said. “I felt he was really good at first.”

Bohm might have saved the season in the sixth inning when he started a double play to get Cristopher Sanchez out of a bases-loaded, one-out situation.

Michael Harris II hit a chopper to Bohm, who fielded it and threw to home plate to force out Ozzie Albies. Then, he snagged the return throw from catcher J.T. Realmuto, which appeared to be up the line.

Sanchez pumped his fist and screamed as he walked off the mound. His pitch count stands at 91 through six innings.

— Scott Lauber

---

// Timestamp 09/30/26 3:52pm

Sánchez gets out of a jam, but his pitch count is climbing

ATLANTA — Cristopher Sánchez sidestepped a Braves rally in the fifth inning.

That was the good news for the Phillies.

But while Sánchez worked around a one-out double by Sean Murphy to strand the go-ahead run on second base — with an assist to catcher J.T. Realmuto — he also walked off the mound having thrown a total of 80 pitches.

After Murphy’s double, Realmuto challenged an 0-1 pitch to No. 9-hitting Ha-Seong Kim. It was overturned, leading to an 0-2 count. Kim fouled off the next pitch, which Realmuto caught against the netting behind home plate for the second out.

The Phillies walked Ronald Acuna Jr. intentionally before getting Drake Baldwin to ground out.

— Scott Lauber

---

// Timestamp 09/30/26 3:15pm

Cristopher Sánchez cruises through three innings

ATLANTA — Don Mattingly said before today’s Game 2 that he expects to push Cristopher Sánchez deep into his start today, if he can.

“As long as he’s throwing the ball good, getting outs,” Mattingly said. “I can’t push him if he’s giving up runs.”

So far, so good on that front. Sánchez gave up a first-inning run on a walk, two stolen bases, and a single, but he has not allowed another hit since to Atlanta. Through three innings, he has used 51 pitches, but he seems to be getting stronger and more dialed in with his location. In the third inning, Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. didn’t lift the bat off his shoulder once, striking out on three pitches and was visibly frustrated in the dugout afterward.

Sánchez’s changeup is working so far, too. Out of Atlanta’s six swings on the pitch, five have been whiffs.

— Lochlahn March

---

// Timestamp 09/30/26 2:38pm

Braves even up Game 2 on Matt Olson RBI

ATLANTA — A leadoff walk to Ronald Acuña Jr. came back to bite Cristopher Sánchez and the Phillies as the Braves tied things back up in the bottom of the inning.

Acuña stole second and then third, as Edmundo Sosa did not cover the bag allowing the Braves star to advance without a throw. And when Matt Olson’s ground ball found a gap on the right side of the infield, Acuña came home easily.

Atlanta put Sánchez to work a bit in the first. Olson’s single was the only hit he allowed, but the Braves fouled off a lot of pitches, driving his pitch count up to 23. He will have to become more efficient if he is to go deep into this game like the Phillies hope.

— Lochlahn March

---

// Timestamp 09/30/26 2:20pm

Bryce Harper RBI gives Phillies an early lead

ATLANTA — For the second consecutive day, the Phillies jumped out to a first-inning lead against the Braves.

Trea Turner started off the game with a double, and scored on a single from Bryce Harper to give Cristopher Sánchez a 1-0 lead to work with.

The Phillies could have done even more early damage against Braves righty Tyler Mahle. With runners on the corners, Harper was off on contact when Bryson Stott hit a tapper back to the mound. Harper was caught in a run down and was tagged out diving back to third.

Even so, the Phillies still had two runners on for Brandon Marsh, but the outfielder chased two splitters in the dirt to strike out and end the rally there.

— Lochlahn March

---

// Timestamp 09/30/26 2:09pm

How the Phillies will approach Tyler Mahle

ATLANTA — The Phillies have a lot of familiarity with Atlanta’s Game 2 starter Tyler Mahle.

This season, they have faced the right-hander four times: twice with the Giants, and twice with the Braves after Mahle was traded there. Relying mainly on his fastball and splitter, Mahle has held them to a 2.28 ERA this season.

“We haven’t solved that riddle really well yet, but we’ll see today,” Mattingly said.

Since the Aug. 2 trade to Atlanta, he’s become even sharper. Mahle had a 5.13 ERA in 18 starts with San Francisco but a 1.99 ERA in nine starts with Atlanta. But Mattingly thinks the Phillies hitters’ familiarity could be an asset while game-planning.

“There’s going to be a plan for each guy individually,” Mattingly said. “Like if I’m a good high ball hitter, I’m gonna push this guy up in the zone. Get him down for a little while, see if he throw strikes down there. But if you’re a guy that hits the ball down, that split may end up being right where I like it. So it depends with each guy, but there should be a solid approach.”

— Lochlahn March

---

// Timestamp 09/30/26 1:32pm

Jhoan Duran could pitch in Game 2 if needed

ATLANTA – If the Phillies have a lead in the late innings today, will they have their star closer available?

Jhoan Duran threw 27 pitches in Game 1, his highest total since Aug. 16. He entered in the seventh inning and retired the side but began to tire in the eighth and allowed a go-ahead three-run homer to Austin Riley on a 100-mph fastball over the heart of the plate.

But Duran is the Phillies’ best reliever – by a wide margin. Interim manager Don Mattingly won’t stray from using him in Game 2, assuming he’s available. Asked after Game 1 if he would be able to pitch, Duran said, “Maybe yes, maybe not,” depending on how he felt after playing catch Wednesday.

Mattingly said he expected to receive a “thumbs up” from Duran but was waiting until for the relievers to go through their pregame workouts.

“Well, it’s like every other day; we’ll see how he throws the ball,” Mattingly said. “He’s been honest with us all year long. If he feels good or not, or he’s good to go, then we go with that.”

— Scott Lauber

---

// Timestamp 09/30/26 11:45am

Zack Wheeler not available Wednesday, Aaron Nola could pitch in ‘total emergency’

ATLANTA — If the Phillies are able to extend their season, Zack Wheeler and probably Aaron Nola would be in the pitching plans Thursday for a decisive Game 3 of the wild-card miniseries.

Wheeler isn’t available out of the bullpen here Wednesday after having thrown 97 pitches in the regular-season finale Sunday, according to interim manager Don Mattingly. But the ace is expected to be a factor Thursday, possibly even to start, on three days’ rest.

“I would think so,” Mattingly said. “I would think so. And even (Thursday) anyway, if Noles starts it.”

Speaking of Nola, he started Saturday night on two days’ rest in a desperate move that backfired when he allowed three runs in the first inning. He’s available Wednesday only in “a total emergency,” Mattingly said, as the Phillies hope to save him for a Game 3 start.

“He threw his (between-starts) pen the other day, so he’s built up for it,” Mattingly said. “Yeah, we expect him to take the ball tomorrow.”

If there is one for the Phillies.

— Scott Lauber

---

// Timestamp 09/30/26 11:34am

Phillies revise Game 2 lineup

After releasing a lineup featuring Bryson Stott batting cleanup, the Phillies revised their Game 2 batting order to have Alec Bohm batting fourth. Stott will instead bat fifth.

“Clerical error when we sent it out,” interim manager Don Mattingly said Wednesday morning.

Here’s the rest of the Phillies’ lineup:

1. SS Trea Turner
2. DH Kyle Schwarber
3. RF Bryce Harper
4. 1B Alec Bohm
5. 2B Bryson Stott
6. LF Brandon Marsh
7. 3B Edmundo Sosa
8. CF Justin Crawford
9.  C J.T. Realmuto

— Scott Lauber

---

// Timestamp 09/30/26 10:32am

Why do the Phillies have three catchers on their playoff roster?

I’m still thinking about how the Phillies have three catchers on their postseason roster – J.T. Realmuto, Rafael Marchán, and Garrett Stubbs

What do you do with three catchers in a three-game series? That’s like the Eagles dressing four quarterbacks.

The construction of the bullpen got a lot of attention after Tuesday’s loss, but don’t overlook how a team with a $320 million payroll started Derek Hill, Bryan De La Cruz, and Edmundo Sosa at No. 5, 6, and 8 while Atlanta had Michael Harris II, Ozzie Albies, and Austin Riley hitting 5-7.

— Matt Breen

---

// Timestamp 09/30/26 8:57am

One reason the Phillies could still beat the Braves

Despite wasting an exceptional outing from Jesús Luzardo, the Phillies should have a pitching advantage in Games 2 and 3.

Tyler Mahle, who is starting Game 2, was excellent after being acquired at the trade deadline from San Francisco, and allowed just one run this season in three starts against the Phils.

But he did get roughed up by the Reds last week in his final start of the regular season and had a 5.13 ERA with the Giants before coming to Atlanta. He’s human and Cristopher Sánchez is the better pitcher who the Phils hope can do enough to force a Game 3.

If so, the Phils will have all hands on deck (even Zack Wheeler) against Grant Holmes. The Braves placed Bryce Elder and Martin Perez on the injured list in September, depleting even more of their options after Chris Sale and Mahle. If the Phils win one of the first two games, they’ll take their chances in an elimination game against Holmes.

— Matt Breen

---

// Timestamp 09/30/26 7:56am

Cristopher Sánchez to start Game 2, and they’ll need him to go deep

The Phillies will pin their hopes of staying alive in the playoffs to Cristopher Sánchez, and he did win 18 games with a 2.91 ERA. They went 23-10 in his starts, albeit only 8-6 on the road and 0-2 against the Braves.

But unless Sánchez throws a complete game, Phillies manager Don Mattingly will face the conundrum of how to get the last three, six, or more outs from less than a handful of trustworthy options.

Zack Wheeler would be on two days’ rest after throwing 97 pitches Sunday in the must-win regular-season finale. Aaron Nola would be on three days’ rest after starting on two days’ rest Saturday night. And the Phillies probably need to hold him back to start a potential Game 3 here Thursday.

Duran threw 27 pitches, his highest total since Aug. 16. Could he pitch again Wednesday in Game 2?

“Maybe yes, maybe not,” he said. “I don’t know. I need to do my catch play first.”

Rookie righty Alex McFarlane will be available after only 16 pitches in the sixth inning. But he gave up the go-ahead run on a hard single by Michael Harris II and Ozzie Albies’ triple off over center fielder Derek Hill’s outstretched glove at the wall in right-center field.

Mattingly suggested that Jonathan Bowlan was an option in the ninth inning if Duran had gotten through the eighth. Rookie starter Andrew Painter will sit in the bullpen again, and could easily get a phone call even though he hasn’t pitched in relief.

— Scott Lauber

---

// Timestamp 09/30/26 7:55am

Phillies face a tough opponent in Tyler Mahle

It’s going to be tough to beat Atlanta Braves starter Tyler Mahle on Wednesday.

He faced the Phillies twice in six days earlier this month, allowing one earned run in 13 innings as the Braves started to run away with the division. He struggled in San Francisco but was much better there after returning from the injured list in late June and blooming into a smart buy-low candidate at the trade deadline.

Mahle dominated the Phillies by mostly throwing a fastball and splitter as he simplified his arsenal since joining the Braves. He doesn’t throw hard but has a ground-ball rate similar to Jesús Luzardo and induced 19 groundouts over those two starts against the Phils. He’ll be looking for that weak contact again.

— Matt Breen

---

// Timestamp 09/30/26 7:50am

History isn’t on the side of a Phillies’ wild-card comeback

If the Phillies hope to come back against the Atlanta Braves, they’ll also need to overcome history.

For starters, the Phillies will need to win two straight games against the Braves to move on to the National League Division Series. Over the past month, the Phillies have won games on back-to-back days just once – Sept. 16 and 17 against the Washington Nationals.

Since 2022, when MLB made the best-of-three wild-card series permanent, 16 teams have gone down 0-1. Just one team — the New York Yankees in 2025 — managed to come back to win the series.

There’s also Phillies history to overcome. Philly is 0-9 all-time when losing Game 1 in any postgame series.

— Rob Tornoe

---

// Timestamp 09/30/26 7:45am

Don Mattingly’s future with the Phillies in peril

ATLANTA — As Don Mattingly settled into his seat on the golf cart to return to his clubhouse after he’d mismanaged his flawed roster into an eighth-inning collapse, Braves ace Chris Sale strode toward the interview room to discuss his role in the Braves’ 5-3 win in Game 1 of the National League wild-card series.

With his magnificent left hand, Sale doffed his cap and tipped it in Mattingly’s direction. Mattingly’s head was down, understandably. Sale, persistent, took his cap off and tipped it again. Mattingly nodded appreciatively.

After Mattingly’s performance Tuesday, that might be the last time the pair sees each other for a long, long time. Mattingly is the Phillies’ interim manager, and he wants to come back next season. A report last month said Mattingly would have to win the NL pennant to make that happen.

That yardstick got longer Tuesday.

Mattingly used his best reliever, closer Jhoan Duran, in a situation overwhelmingly foreign to Duran. The decision smacked of the odd and desperate moves that cost Rob Thomson the manager’s job 28 games into this season. Mattingly was installed by Phillies president Dave Dombrowski last winter as Thomson’s bench coach to mitigate misjudgments like this. Mattingly was promoted to interim manager in April with the assumption that such misjudgments would not continue.

Yes.

Well.

— Marcus Hayes

---

Full wild-card schedule for Wednesday

• Phillies (0-1) at Braves (1-0): 2 p.m. on NBC
• White Sox (1-0) at Astros (0-1): 5 p.m. on NBCSN
• Red Sox (0-1) at Yankees (1-0): 8 p.m. on NBC
• Cubs (0-1) at Padres (1-0): 9:30 p.m. on NBCSN

— Rob Tornoe

// Timestamp 09/30/26 7:40am