Braves and Phillies Deploy Unconventional Pitchers in Wild Card Showdown

Key points

• The Phillies started Aaron Nola, who had a 5.14 ERA in his last 50 starts, instead of ace Zack Wheeler, who was on short rest after pitching for the team on Sunday.
• Nola struggled in his previous appearance against the Rays, lasting only one inning and allowing three runs on four hits, finishing the regular season with a 7-12 record and 4.67 ERA.
• The Braves utilized reliever Ray Kerr as their starter, a move designed to limit the number of times starter Grant Holmes would face the Phillies' lineup.
• Kerr had not pitched in the major leagues since 2024, making his August 17 debut his first appearance in 26 months; he previously worked at 7-Eleven before his MLB debut in 2022.
• Grant Holmes, the Braves' primary starter, allowed an .886 OPS to opposing batters when facing them a second time, compared to a .590 OPS the first time through.

Background

This matchup followed a contentious regular-season rivalry between the NL East leaders. The Braves had previously defeated the Phillies 5-3 in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series, aided by Austin Riley's late home run. The Phillies forced a Game 3 by winning 4-3 in 10 innings, highlighted by a 357-foot home run from Alec Bohm. Prior to the playoffs, the Braves had also secured a 6-2 win over the Phillies in a regular-season game where Tyler Mahle started, while the Phillies had scratched Jesus Luzardo due to shoulder soreness in a September matchup.

Why it matters

The outcome determined which team advanced to the National League Division Series. The Braves' victory marked their first win in a single-elimination game since 1996, while the Phillies' reliance on a high-ERA starter highlighted their late-season struggles and lack of pitching depth.

What to watch

The Atlanta Braves will proceed to the National League Division Series. The Philadelphia Phillies' season has ended following their loss in the Wild Card Series.