ATLANTA – The spirited Rally of the Braves in the ninth inning on Tuesday afternoon might have claimed a moral victory, if things like that existed amid the pressures of a better-than-five series. Velez achieved the real victory.
Philly made significant progress and then went on to win Game One of the NFL Series at Truist Park. This reduces the heat for the visitors in the second game on Wednesday. Win behind their stock, Zack Wheeler, and they go home with Aaron Nola who lined up at Game 3 on Friday with a chance to advance to the NL Championship Series. Lose Game 2 to Kyle Wright and the Braves, and The Phillies will hand baseball to Nola at home after splitting the first two games down the road.
“Yes, being able to hit first is huge, but we in no way believe this streak is over,” said Phillies first team captain Rhys Hoskins. “We know the caliber of the team out there and the way they can get some wins together. So we’ll take Wheeler’s stuff tomorrow. We feel good about it, but we know we have work to do.”
In a rivalry between NL East foes with little to no surprises, there are a few particularly surprising in Game 2. Wheeler, a former racer who is native to suburban Atlanta, will begin his 25th run against the Braves. And Travis Darno, an Atlanta hunter, was at his wedding.
“How do I look at it,” said Darno, “They have to win two more. We have to win three more. We won three in a row. They won twice in a row. So it’s just about taking it day by day and going there tomorrow with Kyle on the hill and with us.” [being] ready to go.”
What time is the match and how can I watch it?
Match 2 was scheduled for Wednesday at 4:35 PM ET on FOX, but the start was delayed due to rain. All games are available in the US on MLB.TV (Participating Pay TV Provider Verification Required). Live games are also available in select countries outside the US For full details click here.
Who are the starting shooters?
Phyllis: Wheeler (12-7, 2.82 ERA) is his second career start after the season ended. he is pitched 6 1/3 innings free of points Friday in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Wheeler grew up about 20 miles from Trust Park, so this is home for him. He is 10-7 with a 3.16 ERA in 24 career starts against the Braves. He’s 2-2 with 2.78 ERA in five games in Atlanta since joining the Phillies in 2020.
brave: Wright (21-5, 3.19 ERA) will be looking to continue his regular season success into postseason. He’s completed no fewer than five rounds in just five of 14 career starts before Become the only MLB winner of 20 games this year. The right-hander is beginning to live up to expectations after gaining confidence with two appearances during last year’s World Championships. His 4 2/3-inning relief effort at Game 4 helped Atlanta claim its first championship since 1995.
What are the starting formations?
Phyllis: It makes sense that Brandon Marsh and Bryson Stott would be back in the line-up with right-handers on the hill at Wright. They did not start in their first game against Braves’ left-handed Max Fried.
Here’s the Game 2 lineup:
brave: With Phillies starting right, Matt Olson finished third and Harris moved from eighth to sixth in the lineup. In place of William Contreras, Marcel Ozuna initially started at the designated hitter.
Here’s the Game 2 lineup:
How will the bulls line up after the start?
Phyllis: I rode Philadelphia in Game 1, after Ranger Suárez only lasted 3 innings and a third. But most miters should be available in Game 2. Seranthony Domínguez only threw 18 pitches, but also pitched two chokes in a dominant attempt. It will be interesting to see if the Phils use it in Game 2, if they need it. Dominguez missed time late in the season due to tendinitis in his right biceps. The team may want to be careful with him.
brave: Atlanta had to indulge its bulls during the first part of Game 1, but given that the NL East champions I entered this series with five days offIn the second game, everyone should be available. The Braves didn’t have to use any of the high leverage reducers during Tuesday’s loss. Spencer Strider is on the list, but they haven’t said if they’ll use him out of the base game or as an opener as he returns from a tense left oblique muscle.
Phyllis: Philadelphia Right hand lost David Robertson for the NLDS after straining his right leg as he jumps to celebrate Bryce Harper’s home race in Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series in St. Louis. He had a PRP injection, although it is unclear if he could participate in the NL Championship, if Velez succeeded.
brave: Ozzie Albies (fractured right pinky) likely won’t be available before the NL Championship Series. The only possible contributions to Albies now will come as a hacker leader. The brave hope that Strider (strained left slasher) is available to start at least one as an opener or potentially as a sedative.
Who is hot and who is not?
Phyllis: Nick Castellanos, In one of the best games in Philadelphia period, went 3-for-3 with one double and three RBIs in the first four innings in Game 1 against the Braves. He’s the second player in Phillies history to have three hits in the first four rounds of a post-season game (right-hander Brett Myers was also, in Game 2 of the 2008 NLCS). … Bryce Harper went 3-vs-3 with a double one and a one-on-one in Game 1. He might be ready in time. He worked his big outing in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card series, then added a solo round in Game 2 in St. Louis. … Dominguez hit three in two perfect runs. It came on the heels of two big hits by Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado in the eighth inning of Game 2 of the NLWCS. Dominguez may regain his charm after struggling initially when he returned from IL last month.
brave: Matt Olson has played in six of his past eight games, including each of his past four games at Trustist Park. his last blast She almost made a comeback in Game 1. The rest has been useful to Ronald Acuna Jr. all this year, and he certainly looked good as he scored three times in the first game of the series. Dansby Swanson made his four-board debut on Tuesday, then etched one long song in the ninth.
Anything else fans might want to know?
In the history of the best-of-five postseason series, first-game winners went on to win the series 102 out of 144 times (71 percent). In the history of the Division Series in a 2-2-1 format, the winning teams have advanced in Game 1 on the road 29 out of 41 times (71 percent).
