The Atlanta Braves have punched their ticket to the NLDS. After a tough extra-innings loss in Game 2, the Braves pounded the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series at Truist Park on Thursday (ATL 6, PHI 2). They'll face the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers when the NLDS begins Saturday. The Phillies are done for 2026.
It did not take the Braves long to take control of Game 3. They had a 3-0 lead four batters into the bottom of the first inning thanks to Michael Harris II's three-run homer off Aaron Nola. It was the first time all series that either team held a lead of more than two runs. Ozzie Albies added a two-run homer in the fourth inning to stretch Atlanta's lead to 5-0.
Lefty opener Ray Kerr pitched into the fourth inning and five relievers, including ace Chris Sale (who got the final four outs), took it from there. The Phillies stranded runners in the fourth, fifth, sixth, and ninth innings. They had chances to make it a game but never got the big swing. Their offense was ultimately their downfall this season. It was too quiet for long stretches too many times throughout the season.
The Wild Card Series win is Atlanta's first postseason series win since their 2021 World Series victory. They were eliminated by the Phillies in the 2022 and 2023 NLDS, and the San Diego Padres in the 2024 Wild Card Series. The Braves missed the postseason a year ago. Here now are our winners and losers from Atlanta's Game 3 win.
Winner: Ray Kerr
Atlanta's opener got 10 outs without allowing a run
Once upon a time, Kerr quit college baseball to work at a 7-Eleven. He got back into the game, signed with the Mariners as an undrafted free agent, got traded a few times, reached the big leagues in 2022, then had Tommy John surgery in 2024. Kerr, 32, returned from surgery this August and made Atlanta's Wild Card Series roster after throwing only 18 ⅓ regular-season innings.
The Braves tabbed Kerr as the opener in Game 3, and he gave them more than they could have possibly hoped. The lefty went through the Kyle Schwarber/Bryce Harper lane twice and tossed 3 ⅓ scoreless innings on 47 pitches. His previous season high was 35 pitches on Sept. 5 (also against the Phillies). Kerr struck out two and allowed just a single and a walk, and got a standing ovation as he left the mound.
Kerr was marvelous for the pitching-needy Braves and really saved them on a night when there were questions about the availability of a few of their top relievers. Give the Braves a truth serum, and I think they would have told you they would have been thrilled with six outs from Kerr. Instead, he gave them 10. Just remarkable performance from the journeyman southpaw.
Loser: Phillies pitching options
Both Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler surrendered crushing home runs
Aaron Nola on regular rest or Zack Wheeler on short rest? Turns out there was no good answer for the Phillies. Nola and Wheeler both gave up multi-run homers in Game 3. Nola started and surrendered a three-run homer to Michael Harris II. Wheeler came out of the bullpen and gave up a two-run homer to Ozzie Albies. The two veterans combined to allow five runs in 5 ⅔ innings.
To be fair to Nola, the pitch Harris hit was at his shoes. It wasn't a bad pitch. The bigger problem is the two walks immediately prior to the homer. Same with Wheeler. He walked Austin Riley immediately before the Albies homer. Phillies pitchers issued five walks, and three of them scored. Solo homers usually won't kill you. Walks before homers definitely will.
Philadelphia's stumble to finish in the regular season forced them to start Wheeler in Game 162 on Sunday just to get to the postseason. That may have cost them the Wild Card Series. Wheeler was unable to start in the series, and the Phillies had to cobble it together with Nola and a recently injured Jesús Luzardo. Add in an inconsistent (at best) offense, and you get a Wild Card Series exit.
Winner: The Dodgers
The reigning champs will face a taxed Braves pitching staff in the NLDS
The Dodgers earned a Wild Card Series bye, so they were able to sit back and watch the Braves and Phillies beat up on each other the last three days. They also watched Atlanta work its bullpen hard in Game 3. Rookie righty Didier Fuentes pitched in all three Wild Card Series games -- it was the first time all year he pitched back-to-back-to-back days -- and Braves manager Walt Weiss used ace Chris Sale in relief.
Sale, 37, threw 6 ⅓ innings and 95 pitches in Game 1 on Tuesday. This was the first time he pitched with just one day of rest since 2011, when he was a reliever with the White Sox. The last time he pitched with even three days of rest was the 2018 posteason with the Red Sox. Sale threw 21 pitches in Game 3 and got the final four outs. The Dodgers must love that. Sale is lined up to start NLDS Game 2 on Sunday.
Los Angeles will welcome a tired Braves team with a taxed bullpen to Dodger Stadium. Even if Fuentes is available in Game 1 on Saturday, he might be fatigued, which could bleed into his performance. How will Sale recover from his Game 3 relief appearance on short rest? Is there a chance the Braves push him back to Game 3 of the NLDS? Either way, the Dodgers are quite happy Sale pitched in Game 3 on Wednesday. That can only help them next round.
Loser: Don Mattingly
The Phillies' interim manager seems likely to be done after the playoff exit
Is interim manager Don Mattingly the reason the Phillies lost the Wild Card Series? No, definitely not. He can't swing the bat or throw the ball for his players, and I loved going to Jhoan Duran in the seventh inning of Game 1. That was Philadelphia's best chance to get to the ninth inning with a lead. I thought it was the right move. It just didn't work out.
Mattingly was likely going to be replaced no matter what after the season. The Wild Card Series loss just means it'll happen sooner rather than later. To make matters worse, Mattingly's son, Preston, is the Phillies GM. Mattingly is likely going to get cut loose by his kid. Ouch. Methinks Alex Cora has a nice big contract offer coming his way in a few days.
