MLB has left the Braves and Phillies waiting on one of the biggest details of their Wild Card showdown: Thursday’s Game 3 start time.
Atlanta and Philadelphia are headed to a decisive game after the Phillies grabbed a 4-3 win on Wednesday to force the series finale, but the league still has not locked in when the game will begin. MLB has only given two possibilities for the start: 2:15 p.m.
ET or 8:15 p.m. ET.
That gap creates a very different day for both clubs as they try to reach the NL Divisional Round. The winner of the Braves-Phillies series will move on to face the Los Angeles Dodgers, with that series set to begin on Saturday, Oct. 3.
The uncertainty comes because MLB is waiting on other results before making the call. The Boston Red Sox-New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs-San Diego Padres games on Wednesday night will help determine where Braves-Phillies lands on the schedule.
The first pitch for Cubs-Padres is not until 10:00 p.m. ET, which could leave the league without a Game 2 winner until deep into Thursday morning.
The Yankees and Padres both lead their respective series 1-0. If either of those teams loses Wednesday, MLB is expected to keep Braves-Phillies in the early 2:15 p.m.
ET slot. If both move on with Game 2 wins, the Braves and Phillies are likely to be pushed back to the 8:15 p.m.
ET window.
The delay has drawn backlash, especially with so much talent on the field. Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Ronald Acuna Jr. are all part of this series, and Harper and Schwarber both went deep in Game 2.
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