The Night the Braves Bounced Back
The Atlanta Braves ended their painful playoff drought with a 6-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday night. In the first inning, Michael Harris II launched a three-run homer to establish an early lead. Ozzie Albies added a two-run shot in the fourth, while Matt Olson capped the scoring with a solo home run in the seventh. This victory marks the first time the team has won a postseason series since their 2021 World Series title.
Chris Sale, who started the series opener, closed out the game with authority. To conclude the ninth inning, he retired pinch-hitter Otto Kemp and Bryan De La Cruz after striking out Bryce Harper during the eighth. The sellout crowd at Truist Park numbered 41,731, a sharp jump from the lower attendance in the first two games. Fans finally packed the stadium for a decisive game that decided who moves on.
Philadelphia’s Aaron Nola struggled mightily, allowing three runs in just 1⅔ innings. Zack Wheeler lasted four innings but gave up the go-ahead home run to Albies. The Phillies have now lost four straight postseason series. Their last playoff round win came in 2023 when they beat Atlanta in the NLDS. That streak of quick exits continues to haunt the organization as they head into the offseason.
Kerr Delivers a Perfect Opener
Manager Walt Weiss made a bold call to use Ray Kerr as an opener in this elimination game. Kerr threw 3⅓ innings without allowing a single run. He faced left-handed hitters Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper multiple times, limiting Schwarber to one hit and one walk. Kerr has a winding career path and did not pitch in the majors last year due to Tommy John surgery in 2024. He joined the Braves major-league roster on August 16.
After the game, Weiss praised the reliever’s resilience. He told reporters, according to MLB Trade Rumors, “Hopefully Ray Kerr became a bit of a household name tonight.” Weiss added that Kerr “deserves it” because he has an “amazing story of perseverance.” The lefty allowed just one hit and one walk before being pulled to a standing ovation. He acknowledged the fans by lifting his arm as he walked toward the dugout.
Grant Holmes succeeded Kerr, surrendering one run across two innings to secure the victory. Kerr made his postseason debut in only his fourth career start. This performance proves that Weiss trusts his bullpen in high-pressure spots. The move worked perfectly against a Phillies lineup that relies heavily on left-handed power hitters.
Next Up: The Dodgers and the Real Test
The National League Division Series now pits the Braves against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the two-time defending World Series champion. This is a best-of-five matchup that starts on Saturday. The series opens at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles for Games 1 &2 before returning to Atlanta. No baseball is scheduled for Friday, giving both teams a full day to rest and prepare.
The Phillies’ recent history suggests they will struggle in the coming years. A streak of five consecutive postseason trips has produced progressively earlier exits overall, starting with their 2022 World Series defeat to Houston. They have gone from the NL Championship Series to two NLDS exits and now this wild-card loss. The organization faces big questions about interim manager Don Mattingly, who took over in April and revived the season before fading late.
Atlanta must now hope their pitching can handle the Dodgers’ deep lineup. Chris Sale is ready to go for the NLDS. He said, “If I’d have to pitch tomorrow, I’d pitch tomorrow.” The Braves won a playoff series for the first time since 2021, but the real work begins now against a team that has dominated recent years. The road to another title gets much harder starting this weekend.
