Our Philadelphia Phillies vs Atlanta Braves preview covers the odds, run line, total, probable pitchers, first pitch time, TV channel and where to watch for Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. The No. 6-seeded Philadelphia Phillies (88-74) visit the No. 3-seeded Atlanta Braves (94-68) at Truist Park in Atlanta, Ga., to open the best-of-three series. First pitch is 2:00 PM ET. TV: NBC / Peacock.
Wild Card storyline: The Braves (94-68) won the NL East by six games and are the NL’s No. 3 seed. The Phillies (88-74) are the No. 6 seed after clinching the final NL wild-card spot on the last day of the regular season. The probable pitchers are Jesús Luzardo (14-5, 2.86) for the Phillies and Chris Sale (14-9, 2.16) for the Braves. DraftKings lists the Braves at -205 on the moneyline and the Phillies at +168, with the total at 6.5.
Philadelphia Phillies vs Atlanta Braves Odds, Run Line & Game Info
| Matchup | Philadelphia Phillies @ Atlanta Braves |
|---|---|
| Series | NL Wild Card Series, Game 1 (best-of-three, all games at Truist Park) |
| Seeds | Philadelphia Phillies No. 6 | Atlanta Braves No. 3 (NL) |
| 2026 Records | Philadelphia Phillies 88-74 | Atlanta Braves 94-68 |
| Run Line | PHI +1.5 (-135) | ATL -1.5 (+112) |
| Moneyline | Philadelphia Phillies: +168 | Atlanta Braves: -205 |
| Total | O/U 6.5 (o-122 / u+101) |
| Venue | Truist Park (Atlanta, Ga.) |
| Date / Time | Tuesday, September 29, 2026 — 2:00 PM ET |
| TV / How to Watch | NBC / Peacock |
| Probable Pitchers | Philadelphia Phillies: Jesús Luzardo (14-5, 2.86) | Atlanta Braves: Chris Sale (14-9, 2.16) |
| Managers | Philadelphia Phillies: Don Mattingly (interim) | Atlanta Braves: Walt Weiss |
| 2026 Season Series | Braves won the 2026 season series 9-4 |
Odds via DraftKings (through ESPN) as of Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, ~7:25 PM PT. Opening line: Braves -193 / Phillies +159, total 7 (DraftKings open; SI, Sept. 27). Lines move, so check your sportsbook before first pitch. Official Wild Card Series rosters are due Tuesday morning.
Phillies vs Braves Wild Card Series Context
Format: The NL Wild Card Series is a best-of-three, and all three games are at Truist Park, home of the higher-seeded Braves. Game 1 is Tuesday at 2:00 PM ET, Game 2 is Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 2:00 PM ET, and Game 3, if necessary, is Thursday, Oct. 1 (time TBD). Games 1 and 2 are on NBC and Peacock. The winner advances to the NLDS against the No. 2-seeded Los Angeles Dodgers.
Head-to-head: Atlanta went 9-4 against Philadelphia in 2026 and finished six games ahead in the NL East. The Braves swept three in Philadelphia in April and took two of three at Truist Park later that month. In September, the teams split four games in Philadelphia (Sept. 4-7), and Atlanta took two of three at Truist Park (Sept. 11-13). Philadelphia won the final meeting 9-4 (MLB Stats API).
Postseason history: This is the fourth postseason series between the NL East rivals. Philadelphia won all three earlier meetings, including in 2022 and 2023, when the wild-card Phillies knocked off the division-champion Braves. The 2023 NLDS went to Philadelphia 3-1 (MLB.com, NBC Sports).
Philadelphia Phillies Preview: Wild Card Game 1
Season in review: Philadelphia started 9-19 and fired manager Rob Thomson on April 28. Bench coach Don Mattingly took over as interim manager for the rest of the season, and the Phillies finished 88-74 (2nd in the NL East, 6 GB). They made the playoffs only after a four-game losing streak in the final week. Zack Wheeler pitched them in with six strong innings in Sunday’s 7-3 win over Tampa Bay in Game 162 (MLB.com, CBS/AP).
Key numbers: Philadelphia scored 713 runs and allowed 698. The team hit .240 with a .707 OPS and 182 home runs and posted a 4.04 ERA (MLB Stats API). Kyle Schwarber tied for the MLB lead with 45 homers and led the team with a .503 slugging percentage and 97 RBIs. The staff led MLB with 1,577 strikeouts and ranked second with 75 quality starts (NBC Sports). The bullpen has struggled lately: Phillies relievers have a 5.79 ERA since Sept. 1, last in the majors (MLB.com). Philadelphia was 45-36 on the road.
Pitching plan: Because Wheeler pitched Sunday, he won’t be on full rest at any point in this series. Cristopher Sánchez won’t be on full rest until Wednesday, and Andrew Painter and Aaron Nola are the other options (MLB.com).
Injuries: Mattingly said second baseman Luis Arraez (left ankle sprain) will not be on the Wild Card Series roster. RHP Jonathan Bowlan (groin) will be available (CBS/AP). ESPN also lists Caleb Kilian (oblique), Felix Reyes (wrist) and Johan Rojas (elbow) on the 60-day IL.
Atlanta Braves Preview: Wild Card Game 1
Season in review: Under manager Walt Weiss, the Braves (94-68) won the NL East comfortably and went 52-29 at Truist Park. Atlanta scored 742 runs and allowed 626. The team hit .246 with a .718 OPS and 204 homers and posted a 3.63 ERA with 49 saves (MLB Stats API).
Key players: First baseman Matt Olson ranked third in MLB with 75 extra-base hits, including 41 home runs and 34 doubles (NBC Sports). Chris Sale anchors a rotation that has been hit hard by injuries. Tyler Mahle, a trade-deadline pickup, is the likely Game 2 starter (CBS/AP).
Injuries: Atlanta has lost starters Spencer Schwellenbach, Spencer Strider, Reynaldo López and Hurston Waldrep this season. LHP Martín Pérez went on the 15-day IL Thursday with lower-back inflammation. RHP Bryce Elder (Sept. 8 knee surgery) threw batting practice Monday but won’t be on the Wild Card roster. Joe Jiménez (knee) also threw BP (CBS/AP). ESPN lists OF Lane Thomas (side, 10-day IL) and López (shoulder, 15-day IL).
Starting Pitchers: Jesús Luzardo vs Chris Sale
Phillies: Jesús Luzardo (LHP, 14-5, 2.86 ERA) — 29 starts, 179.2 IP, 221 strikeouts, 52 walks, 1.07 WHIP (MLB Stats API). The All-Star lefty was NL Pitcher of the Month in August. He is coming off an IL stint for left shoulder inflammation and threw a scoreless relief inning in Sunday’s clincher. Philadelphia says he will open Game 1. It will be his first start since his Sept. 7 shutout of the Braves, a nine-inning, two-hit, 12-strikeout 1-0 win (CBS/AP). How long he can go is still an open question (MLB.com).
Braves: Chris Sale (LHP, 14-9, 2.16 ERA) — 27 starts, 162.2 IP, 200 strikeouts, 31 walks, 0.98 WHIP (MLB Stats API). Sale went 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA in four starts (26 innings) against Philadelphia this season (MLB Stats API). Bryce Harper is 2-for-21 against him and Kyle Schwarber is 2-for-25 (MLB.com). This will be Sale’s first postseason appearance since 2021 and his first with Atlanta, since a back injury kept him out of the 2024 Wild Card Series (MLB.com).
How to Watch Philadelphia Phillies vs Atlanta Braves – Wild Card Game 1
Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2026
First pitch: 2:00 PM ET (2:00 PM local)
Venue: Truist Park, Atlanta, Ga.
TV / Streaming: NBC and Peacock (Matt Vasgersian with John Kruk and C.J. Nitkowski, reporter Ashley ShahAhmadi; Joey Votto on “Inside the Pitch”). Spanish-language coverage on Universo, with SAP on Peacock. ESPN Radio has national radio coverage.
Game 2 is Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 2:00 PM ET, and Game 3, if necessary, is Thursday, Oct. 1. Check the run line, moneyline and total above against your sportsbook before the September 29, 2026 first pitch, and look for official rosters and lineups closer to game time.