The Philadelphia Phillies have punched their ticket to an NLDS rematch against the Atlanta Braves after completing a two-game sweep of the Miami Marlins in the NL Wild Card Series with an emphatic 7-1 win on Wednesday.
This victory sets the stage for what promises to be an electrifying showdown between two NL East powerhouses.
The Braves enter the postseason as the favorites to claim the World Series title after an outstanding regular season performance.
With an MLB-high 104 wins, the Braves showcased a potent and deep lineup that left pitchers across the league shaking in their cleats. Their impressive numbers included a league-leading 307 home runs and a top-ranked .845 OPS.
The Phillies will face the Braves in Atlanta in the NLDS Saturday and Monday at 6PM. Back in Philly Wednesday and Thursday with times to be determined. Back in Atlanta Saturday October 14 if necessary pic.twitter.com/R81vOeJ1ng
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) October 5, 2023
A staggering ten Braves players recorded 11 or more homers, with five of them, including Matt Olson, Ronald Acuña Jr., Marcell Ozuna, Austin Riley, and Ozzie Albies, hitting 33 or more dingers.
Matt Olson led the majors with an astonishing 54 home runs, while Acuña Jr., a strong contender for the NL MVP, contributed 41 homers, 106 RBI, 217 hits, 149 runs, 73 stolen bases, a .337 batting average, and a jaw-dropping 1.012 OPS.
Opposing pitchers will face a formidable challenge trying to navigate this Braves lineup, especially in a best-of-five series, where each game is critical.
However, baseball’s unpredictable nature suggests that even the most dominant teams can falter in October.
I am truly excited as a baseball fan for the Phillies vs. Braves series. Yes, I am a diehard @Braves fan, but I'm also just thrilled because we are in for some great baseball. Two of the best in the league battling it out. This is what October is all about.
Get your 🍿 ready.
Go…— Anna Huffstutler (@A_Huffstutler) October 5, 2023
The Phillies, who posted a solid 90-win season, are far from being intimidated by the Braves dominance.
In the 2022 NLDS, Philadelphia emerged victorious with a 3-1 series win over the Braves, largely thanks to the heroics of Bryce Harper, who boasted an astronomical 1.592 OPS during that postseason.
This year, the Phillies come into the NLDS with a renewed sense of confidence after overcoming a slow start to the season, going 25-32 in their initial 57 games.
Trea Turner has been instrumental in their resurgence, posting a remarkable .902 OPS in the second half. Bryce Harper, known for his clutch performances, recently launched six homers in his last 18 regular-season games.
Despite a .197 batting average, Kyle Schwarber led the team with an impressive 47 home runs.
Philadelphia’s starting rotation, anchored by Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, is poised to challenge the Braves Max Fried and Spencer Strider.
Wheeler and Nola put on a dominant display in the NL Wild Card Series sweep over the Marlins, combining for 13.2 innings of one-run ball and tallying 11 strikeouts.
The Phillies bullpen has also been reliable, ranking seventh in MLB with a 3.56 ERA.
In terms of defense, the Braves hold a slight edge, with Fielding Bible ranking them tied for 15th in MLB with 17 defensive runs saved. In contrast, Philadelphia struggled defensively, accumulating a negative-25 defensive runs saved.
During the regular season, Atlanta held the upper hand in their head-to-head matchups, going 8-5 against Philadelphia and outscoring the Phillies 74-58.
Cheapest ticket for each team’s first NLDS home game:
– Astros ($40)
– Diamondbacks ($42)
– Twins ($43)
– Dodgers ($67)
– Rangers ($73)
– Orioles ($102)
– Braves ($108)– Phillies ($262)
— Life of a Philly Fan (@PhillyFanLife) October 5, 2023
Needless to say, this series will be a whole lot of fun.
Who do you think will win???