Most people assume the starting pitcher dictates the outcome of a playoff game. The data says otherwise. Tyler Mahle threw seven innings of one-run ball, a feat not seen by an Atlanta pitcher since Max Fried in 2020, yet the Braves still lost. The team gave up a two-run lead in the eighth inning and another in the tenth. Per MLB.com Braves, the usually reliable bullpen became the problem in a 4-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Starter’s Dominance
Tyler Mahle did his job perfectly. Over seven innings, he gave up only one run and six hits. This was his first career postseason appearance, and he held the Phillies in check despite a shaky first inning. The Phillies took an early lead when Trea Turner doubled and scored on a Bryce Harper single. Mahle settled down quickly after that. He struck out key batters and escaped jams. According to Battery Power, he struck out Schwarber and got Harper to ground out in the third inning.
His performance was historic. Since Max Fried, no Atlanta pitcher had surrendered one run or fewer across seven-plus innings in a postseason contest until he did. The Braves had a chance to sweep the best-of-three series. Instead, the game moved to extra innings. The starter’s effort was wasted by bullpen struggles.
The Eighth Inning Collapse
The Braves held a two-run lead entering the eighth. That lead vanished fast. Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper hit back-to-back home runs off Dylan Lee to start the inning. Schwarber hit a solo home run measuring 447 feet to right field. Harper came through on the immediately following pitch to wipe out the advantage. Fox 5 Atlanta: Braves reported that this rough outing by Lee prevented Mahle from earning the win.
Lee was inconsistent during the second half of the regular season. The Phillies capitalized on that weakness. They had already shown they could hit late in games. Alec Bohm hit a two-out homer in the 10th to win the game. But the damage started earlier. The bullpen gave up the lead when the team needed it most. The Braves recorded nine hits that day and failed to score during the last three innings.
A Deciding Game Three
The series now comes down to one game. The start time for Game 3 depends on other matchups. If it is the only remaining series, the game starts at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. Otherwise, it begins at 2 p.m. ET. Per MLB.com Braves, the Braves must regroup after blowing a lead in the eighth and losing in extras.
Philadelphia will start Zach Wheeler again. He pitched six innings in Game 2, escaping a bases-loaded jam in the sixth. The Braves need a different outcome from their relief corps. They cannot afford to let a lead slip away again. The Phillies hit 12 hits in the win. Atlanta had nine hits. The difference was in the late innings. The Braves must fix their bullpen or the season ends on Thursday.
