Braves Aim to Eliminate Phillies in NL Wild Card Game 2

Atlanta carries a 1-0 edge into Wednesday afternoon, with Tyler Mahle set to take the ball against Cristopher Sánchez as the Braves try to end the Phillies’ season at Truist Park. First pitch for Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET, with NBC and Peacock carrying the broadcast.

The Braves took Tuesday’s opener, 5-3, in a game that swung back and forth before Atlanta found the last answer. Now the best-of-three set presents a short, sharp assignment: one win sends the Braves to the National League Division Series, while Philadelphia needs a road victory to force a deciding Game 3.

“We’re looking forward to it,” Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber said after the loss. “I don’t think anybody will be down anymore. Everybody’s focus has turned to tomorrow.”

The result

Atlanta’s Game 1 victory put history firmly on its side. Clubs that have won the first game of a best-of-three Wild Card Series have captured 21 of 24 series, an 88% rate. The three teams that recovered after dropping the opener all did so at home. This is the 10th Wild Card Series in which the home club won Game 1, and the first nine such teams finished off the series.

That does not erase Philadelphia’s recent October record against Atlanta. The Phillies have taken each of their last three postseason series against the Braves: the 1993 National League Championship Series and the 2022 and 2023 NL Division Series. They went 10-4 in those matchups.

Philadelphia’s offense entered the postseason in a prolonged lull, batting .226 during September, 28th in the majors, with a .660 OPS that ranked 29th. J.T. Realmuto supplied a needed Game 1 breakthrough, delivering a two-run triple after enduring his own difficult finish to the regular season.

The Braves bring a few hitters who have been swinging better down the stretch. Mauricio Dubón has posted a club-best .993 OPS since Sept. 14, while Drake Baldwin has a .996 mark and Michael Harris II is at .870 over that span. Austin Riley’s Game 1 homer was his third in seven games, and Ozzie Albies added a timely triple after a frustrating September.

The rotation next

Mahle, a right-hander, gets the assignment for Atlanta. He posted a 1.99 ERA across nine starts with the Braves after arriving before the Trade Deadline, even though his final regular-season outing brought five earned runs in five innings against Cincinnati. Before that start, he had produced a 1.28 ERA in his first eight Atlanta appearances. Mahle faced Philadelphia twice in September and allowed one earned run in 13 innings.

His work in Atlanta has been a dramatic change from his first half with San Francisco, where he made 18 starts and carried a 5.13 ERA. Among starters acquired before the deadline, Mahle was one of the most productive once he changed uniforms.

Sánchez counters for Philadelphia after another frontline season. The left-hander finished second in the National League with 231 strikeouts and 207 innings, while his 2.91 ERA ranked sixth. His changeup generated 122 strikeouts, 51 more than any other pitcher recorded with that pitch.

The splits tell two versions of Sánchez’s season. He went 12-3 with a 2.23 ERA in 19 home starts, but was 6-4 with a 3.87 ERA in 14 road outings. He is winless in nine career appearances against Atlanta, including eight starts, at 0-5, though his ERA in those games is a respectable 3.26. In four starts against the Braves during the last two seasons, that ERA is 2.19.

Atlanta’s core has handled Sánchez well in their previous meetings. Matt Olson, Albies, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Riley are a combined 28-for-72 against him, a .389 average.

Expected lineups

Philadelphia is expected to return to its usual right-handed-pitcher alignment, with Brandon Marsh and Justin Crawford likely replacing Bryan De La Cruz and Derek Hill.

Sosa remains available despite tweaking his groin in Sunday’s regular-season finale. He appeared somewhat limited while legging out a double in Game 1.

Atlanta may use Brewer Hicklen in left field against Sánchez. Left-handed hitters have managed only a .392 OPS against the Phillies starter this year, and Mike Yastrzemski’s key Game 1 hit came against left-hander Jesús Luzardo. Hicklen could hold the job until Sánchez leaves the game. Manager Walt Weiss said Sean Murphy will catch Mahle.

The late innings

Philadelphia’s bullpen construction remains unsettled after its Game 1 plan failed to hold. Rookie right-hander Alex McFarlane was first out of the bullpen in the sixth, then interim manager Don Mattingly went to closer Jhoan Duran with the possibility of asking him for the final three innings.

If Duran’s workload had required another ninth-inning option, Philadelphia could have turned to Jonathan Bowlan, who has not pitched since Sept. 17 because of a right groin injury, and left-hander José Alvarado. Starter Andrew Painter is another potential Game 2 relief option. Zack Wheeler could enter the picture if the series reaches Game 3.

The Braves used only Didier Fuentes, Dylan Lee and Raisel Iglesias in the opener, leaving all three available for another high-leverage call Wednesday. Robert Suarez also could be used in the late innings, either to protect a lead or keep the score within reach.

Roster watch

Philadelphia is without Luis Arraez, who badly sprained his left ankle last Thursday and was omitted from the Wild Card roster. Otto Kemp took his place.

Atlanta outfielder Lane Thomas, sidelined since Sept. 11 with an intercostal strain, could become available in the NLDS if the Braves advance. The club also could have starting pitchers Bryce Elder, recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery, Reynaldo López, dealing with right shoulder inflammation, and Martín Pérez, sidelined by lower-back discomfort, available in later rounds.

Wednesday’s game will also air in Spanish on Universo, with Spanish-language radio coverage on Univision Radio. ESPN Radio will carry national audio coverage throughout the 2026 postseason, beginning with the Wild Card Series.