MLB Wild Card Opener
Braves Plan Chris Sale for Game 1 Against Philadelphia Phillies
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Key Points
1
Philadelphia’s lineup changes include Bryan De La Cruz batting sixth and Derek Hill fifth; Alec Bohm, who is starting at first base, has an .838 career OPS and a home run in 23 at-bats against Sale.
2
The Phillies finished the season 29-27 against left-handed starters. They started 2-10 against them before going 27-17, but ranked ninth among the 12 playoff teams in that category.
3
Luzardo’s opener will be his first start since Sept. 7, when he threw the first shutout of his career in a 1-0 win over Atlanta. Tyler Mahle is the likely starter for Atlanta in Game 2.
4
Sale has not pitched in the playoffs for Atlanta before. His previous postseason appearances came with Boston, where he went 1-3 with a 6.35 ERA across 10 appearances, including seven starts.
The Atlanta Braves will turn to Chris Sale in Tuesday's Game 1 of their National League Wild Card Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Sale dominated the regular season, posting a 14-9 record with a 2.16 ERA, and was nearly unhittable against Philadelphia at 4-0 with a 2.08 ERA Yahoo Sports.
Philadelphia counters with an unconventional approach: Jesús Luzardo will open the game after recovering from shoulder surgery. The Phillies have stacked their lineup with right-handed hitters to exploit Sale's left-handed arm, though they'll miss All-Star second baseman Luis Arraez due to injury.
Sale's Dominant Season and Philadelphia History
Sale arrives as one of baseball's elite left-handed starters. His 2.16 ERA ranked among the best in baseball, and his 4-0 record with a 2.08 ERA against the Phillies makes him a nightmare matchup for Philadelphia's offense. However, Sale has never pitched in the playoffs for the Braves — his four previous postseason appearances came with Boston, where he went 1-3 with a 6.35 ERA Yahoo Sports.
Phillies Adjust Lineup and Struggle vs. Lefties
Philadelphia has reconfigured its batting order to maximize right-handed hitters against Sale. Alec Bohm will play first base and has a .838 career OPS against Sale with a home run in 23 at-bats. Bryan De La Cruz bats sixth and Derek Hill fifth in the adjustment Yahoo Sports.
The Phillies finished 29-27 against left-handed starters this season, though they improved dramatically after a rough 2-10 start. They went 27-17 against lefties down the stretch but still ranked ninth among the 12 playoff teams in that category Yahoo Sports.
Luzardo's First Start in Three Weeks
Luzardo's opener marks his return from shoulder surgery with limited recent action. His last start came September 7, when he threw a complete-game shutout against Atlanta in a 1-0 victory. The Phillies are being cautious with his workload, meaning he may exit early Yahoo Sports.
Braves Hold Regular-Season Edge Despite Past Playoff Losses
Atlanta won nine of 13 regular-season games against Philadelphia and captured the NL East title. However, history haunts the Braves: the Phillies eliminated them in both the 2022 and 2023 Division Series. Tyler Mahle figures to start Game 2 for Atlanta if the series extends Yahoo Sports.
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