The Phillies and Braves have traded punches through two games, and now the whole thing comes down to Thursday’s Game 3 in Atlanta. Philadelphia answered the Braves’ Game 1 comeback with one of its own in Game 2, a 4-3 extra-inning win that pushed this NL Wild Card Series to the edge.
For the Phillies, the math is simple: win and they get an NLDS rematch with the Dodgers from last year. For the Braves, a victory sends them to the NLDS for the first time since 2023.
Alec Bohm, who delivered the game-winning homer in Game 2, put it plainly: “Just win a game,” said Phillies infielder Alec Bohm, who hit the game-winning homer in the Phillies’ 4-3 extra-inning victory in Game 2. “ … I think as much as we want to enjoy this for a little bit, it's the same as we did [after Game 1]: Turn the page, and move on to tomorrow and show up ready to do the same thing.”
Game 3 is set for Thursday on NBC and Peacock, with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. ET unless it becomes the only series still going.
In that case, Phillies-Braves would begin at 8 p.m. ET.
The series will also be available in Spanish on Universo, with Univision Radio carrying Spanish-language audio coverage. ESPN Radio will have live national coverage of all 2026 MLB postseason games, starting with the Wild Card Series.
The pitching picture remains fluid on both sides.
The Phillies have not announced a starter yet. They planned to meet after Game 2 to sort out their plans for the deciding game, and interim manager Don Mattingly said Monday that Aaron Nola was setting up to start Game 3.
But he also made clear that could change. Zack Wheeler would not be a surprise on short rest, and if he doesn’t start, he’d still be in play out of the bullpen.
Jesús Luzardo, who started Game 1, and Andrew Painter, who threw three innings in relief in Game 2, both said they would be available as well.
The Braves, meanwhile, are expected to lean on Grant Holmes for the bulk of the innings, though it’s still unclear whether he’ll start or come in behind an opener. If Atlanta goes with an opener, the choices appear to be left-handers Ray Kerr or Brent Suter, both of whom would be asked to deal with Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber right away.
Philadelphia’s lineup again features Trea Turner leading off, followed by Schwarber and Harper in the heart of the order. Bohm bats cleanup, with Bryson Stott, Derek Hill, Brandon Marsh, J.T. Realmuto and Justin Crawford rounding it out.
Atlanta’s group looks more dangerous against right-handed pitching, and the alignment shown includes Mike Yastrzemski in left field, which shifts Mauricio Dubón to shortstop. That would place Sean Murphy behind the plate and Drake Baldwin in the designated hitter spot, with Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson, Michael Harris II, Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley also in the mix.
Mattingly called the approach “all hands on deck,” though closer Jhoan Duran was unavailable in Game 2. Mattingly said he hoped to have Duran for Game 3. Outside of Cristopher Sánchez, who started Game 2, the Phillies are expected to have nearly every arm available, from Wheeler to Luzardo to Painter.
There is one injury note to keep in mind: Luis Arraez is not on the roster for the series after badly spraining his left ankle on Thursday. Sosa said he felt better after Game 2, but his status for Game 3 remains unclear.
And a few Phillies bats are starting to heat up at the right time. Schwarber and Harper have a habit of going deep in bunches, and their back-to-back homers in the eighth inning of Game 2 may have flipped the momentum. Bohm is 3-for-8 in the series with a double and a homer, while Realmuto has finally chipped in after a rough season, collecting two hits and two RBIs so far.
In Other News...
Braves Enter Do Or Die Game 3 With One Huge Pitching Problem
The Braves head into a must-win Game 3 with the kind of pitching uncertainty that can tilt an October series before the first pitch is even thrown. With Zack Wheeler likely on the mound for the division rival, Atlanta is trying to piece together its own plan without a clear traditional starter, leaving Grant Holmes and Ray Kerr poised to be part of whatever approach the club chooses.
Tyler Mahle gave Atlanta a strong outing in Game 2, but it still wasnt enough because the offense never delivered the home runs it needed and the bullpen couldnt hold the line late. Now the margin for error is gone, and the Braves have to solve both the pitching puzzle and the power shortage if they want to keep the series alive. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Let A Winnable Elimination Game Slip Away To Phillies
For a Braves club that had every reason to feel good about where Game 2 was headed, the margin for error vanished in a hurry. Philadelphia handed Atlanta an opening when Bryce Harpers misplay in right field let the go-ahead run score, and the Braves carried that edge into the late innings with a chance to put the series away.
Instead, the Phillies kept finding ways to claw back. Harper later erased the deficit with a game-tying homer alongside Kyle Schwarber, and Alec Bohm, after an earlier miscue on a bunt, delivered the go-ahead blast in the 10th to flip the game for good. The series is now even, and Atlanta heads into Thursdays Game 3 with its season suddenly hanging on one more night. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Make A Risky Game 2 Lineup Call With Season On Line
The Braves are making a notable tweak to their Game 2 batting order, one shaped less by recent rhythm than by how certain hitters have fared against Cristopher Snchez over time. Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies moved up in the lineup for the matchup with Philadelphia, a clear nod to their past success against the left-hander, while the club is trying to find the right balance in a game that carries obvious weight in the series.
Michael Harris II is the more interesting piece of the shuffle. He has been pushed down in the order despite hitting well lately, a reflection of his poor track record against Snchez rather than his current form, and he said he feels good about where his game is now after adjustments he made since the 2025 All-Star break. The Braves are betting on history in one spot and present form in another, a reminder of how thin the margins can get when a season is on the line. [Read more 🡒]