Tonight’s the night. Game 3 of the Wild Card Series kicks off at Truist Park, and one team is going home while the other gets to face the back-to-back World Series champion Dodgers in the NLDS. Talk about pressure, right?
How We Got Here: Clutch Bombs and Pitching Headaches
This best-of-three series has been absolutely taut and hotly contested, a real nail-biter from the jump. We saw Austin Riley blast a late home run to snatch Game 1 for the Braves. But then the Phillies weren’t having any of that in Game 2 on Wednesday, responding with a trio of clutch homers in the late innings to force this winner-take-all showdown. Now, for the decider, the Phillies are sending veteran right-hander Aaron Nola to the mound, while the Braves are countering with lefty Raymond Kerr as an opener, which could definitely turn into a multi-inning situation. The stakes couldn’t be higher: winning tonight means you get to square off against the Dodgers.
The Experts Are Split, But Everyone’s Talking Pitching
When you’ve got a game this big, you know the experts are going to weigh in, and they’re definitely not all on the same page for this one. Mike Axisa is pulling for the Phillies, predicting a 5-2 win for them. He thinks their pitching situation, with Nola starting and Zack Wheeler ready to come in, is better set up, especially with the Braves’ offense feeling “stuck in the mud” and needing misplays for runs in Game 2. Axisa even sees the Phillies completing the comeback and joining last year’s Yankees as the only teams to win a Wild Card Series after dropping Game 1.
But then you’ve got Kate Feldman and Dayn Perry leaning hard into the Braves. Feldman sees the Braves winning 8-4, saying the Phillies “haven’t been right” and that Game 2’s win felt like a “miracle” they won’t repeat. She’s got a hard time relying on Nola to save their season. Perry agrees, picking the Braves 7-5. He flat out says he has “no great deal of faith in Nola right now,” pointing to his underlying numbers being worse in the second half, even if his ERA looked good. Perry thinks both pitching staffs are in a rough spot for this game, expecting “early runs will be in abundance.” He’s betting on the Braves because they’re at home and have the stronger offense and defense. Matt Snyder also sides with the Braves, predicting a tight 5-4 victory.
The common thread? Everyone’s eyeing those pitching staffs and how they’ll hold up under pressure.
The tension is absolutely electric for this one. Get ready for 8:00 p.m. ET, because when that first pitch flies from Truist Park tonight, someone’s season is on the line. What a night for baseball!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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