A Familiar Rivalry Returns
The Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies are set for another postseason battle. This is the third time in five years these teams meet in the playoffs. Per MLB.com Braves, the series starts Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET at Truist Park. The games will run on NBC and Peacock. Fans know this rivalry well. It has defined the NL East for years. Nine seasons saw the Braves secure the division title seven times. But the Phillies have been the thorn in their side. Atlanta won 100-plus games in 2022 and 2023. They still lost to Philly in the Division Series both times. Now they face them again in a best-of-three format.
Matt Olson sees the logic in this matchup. “It just feels right, doesn’t it?” he said. The feeling is shared by many fans. The teams played seven games in a span where Atlanta was destroying life on earth during the early months. That split record might not mean much now. The Phillies finished with six fewer wins than the Braves this year. They also went 4-9 against Atlanta. Yet history shows these series are tight. The Braves lost 3-1 in the last two NLDS meetings. This time, the stakes are high but the format is short. Two losses end the run.
The Pitching Duel Matters Most
Chris Sale is the key to the Braves’ chances. This year, he posted a 2.16 ERA, placing third in the Majors. His numbers against Philadelphia are even better. Sale posted a 2.08 ERA in four starts against them. That is 26 innings of dominant work. He has a 7.24 ERA in his last seven postseason starts. But the regular season stats against this specific team tell a different story. He is ready to compete for the first time since 2021. His memory of the 2018 World Series shows he handles pressure. He struck out three Dodgers in the ninth inning of Game 5.
The Phillies rotation is a mess right now. Per Battery Power, Zack Wheeler pitched on Sunday to get into the postseason. He likely cannot start on normal rest. Rookie Andrew Painter threw a bullpen session. Left-hander Jesús Luzardo threw a clean inning in relief. Aaron Nola threw only 21 pitches on short rest. NThe Phillies will start Jesus Luzardo in Game 1. This uncertainty hurts Philadelphia. The Braves have a clear edge if Sale takes the mound. He knows the Phillies hitters. He has beaten them all season long.
Can the Offense Deliver?
The Braves lineup has struggled recently. But Ronald Acuña Jr. had a massive surge in September. He produced a 1.377 OPS in seven games against the Phillies. That is the kind of production needed to win a short series. The Phillies offense has been among MLB’s worst in September. Don Mattingly shuffled his lineup to try and spark something. Trea Turner leads off. Bryce Harper hits third. Kyle Schwarber and Alec Bohm are in the middle.
The Braves need to protect the lead early. The Phillies have less combined fWAR than the Cubs have at just position players. They are last in position player value. But they are first in pitching value. This makes the first five innings critical. If the Braves score early, the Phillies offense might stall. If they fall behind, the pressure mounts. The series could end in two games or go to three. The Braves have the home field advantage. They need to use it.
The path is clear. Win the pitching duel. Let Sale work deep into games. Let Acuña hit the ball hard. The history of losses to Philadelphia ends now. “We’ve got a lot of respect for them. They’re a good team. We’re ready to rock,” Olson said. The team is focused. The fans are ready. The Braves must seize this chance. A win here changes everything. The road to the World Series starts Tuesday.
