There are only three games in the Wild Card round, but give me seven games of this series between the Phillies and Braves. Heck, give me 30 games of it, because if they are anything like the first two games, we absolutely need to watch as many of them as possible. The first two games were masterpieces, and tonight we get a third. This was the only series that reached three games, with all others ending in two-game sweeps. The question remains: what is the wager for tonight’s Game 3?
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In Game 1, the two teams did their best imitation of a boxing match, with one team landing a punch, only for it to be countered by the opponent. The Phillies struck first, but the Braves scored to tie it up shortly after. It wasn’t until the sixth inning that the Braves took a brief lead. The Phillies found a lead of their own in the top of the seventh. Philadelphia decided to bring in their closer to go for an extended save of multiple innings. It backfired as Austin Riley hit a three-run homer off of him in the bottom of the eighth. That gave the Braves Game 1.
Austin Riley of the Atlanta Braves reacts after hitting a three-run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the eighth inning of Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on Sept. 29, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
If you are the Phillies, you should be concerned about the team losing the first game because, since this format started, only one team has won the best-of-three series after dropping the opening game. However, the Phillies had the advantage of starting Cristopher Sanchez yesterday. Sanchez turned in a great performance, but it was matched by Tyler Mahle from the Braves. The teams scored just one run each in the first inning, and then nothing until the seventh. The Braves went up 3-1 with some clutch hitting and poor fielding from the Phillies. Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, who was key in the poor fielding, went back-to-back in the 8th inning, tying the game. Alec Bohm hit a solo shot in the 10th to give the Phillies the lead and a win.
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Bryce Harper hit a solo home run to tie the game in the eighth inning during Game Two of the National League Wild Card Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Sept. 30, 2026, in Atlanta, Ga. (Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Today, the two teams take the field for the final time. One team is going home; one team will move on to face the Dodgers. Aaron Nola will take the ball for the Phillies, and he has pitched in many big games. The Phillies will also have Zack Wheeler and Jesus Luzardo available out of the bullpen in this one. Nola did not have a good year, finishing with a 7-12 record, 4.67 ERA, and a 1.35 WHIP. He was better on the road, though, so maybe there is hope as he turned in a 3.84 ERA, and he also was much better in August and September, throwing 61.1 innings and allowing 20 earned runs. He faced the Braves three times this season, and he allowed nine earned runs over 18 innings.
The Braves are not as deep at starting pitching, so I’m a bit confused about what will happen here. At the time of writing, they haven’t announced a starter for the game. It is reported that they will most likely do a bullpen game. For the season, the Braves ranked sixth in bullpen ERA, so it isn’t like this is a disaster. They had a collective ERA of 3.58, and they have a strong closer. My guess is that they will quickly move through arms, but they’ve used three guys in both games, including Raisel Iglesias in the past two, so his arm might be tired.
Philadelphia Phillies’ Bryce Harper (3) reacts after hitting a home run against the Atlanta Braves during the eighth inning of Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on Sept. 30, 2026, in Atlanta, Ga. (Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images)
I don’t really trust Aaron Nola, but I trust a used Braves bullpen less. I’m cautiously taking the Phillies in this one, simply because I think they have three arms in Nola, Luzardo and Wheeler who can go for three innings each and give them solid production. There are so many great hitters on both sides that it really is a coin flip, but the line has moved toward Philly as well, and in this case, I agree with it. Give me Philadelphia.
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