Philadelphia Phillies vs Atlanta Braves: Full Divisional Round Schedule, Probable Starters, and Watch Parties for the First 2 Games in Atlanta

Drew Smith
October 5, 2023
Phillies
1 Comment

The Philadelphia Phillies beat the Miami Marlins 2-0 in the Wild Card round, capping it off with a dominant series-clinching win last night at The Bank, 7-1.

Now, focus shifts to the NLDS with the Phillies facing the Atlanta Braves for the second straight season. Rob Thomson has yet to announce who will start Game 1 in Atlanta on Saturday, but the likely favorite is Ranger Suarez.

Taijuan Walker and Cristopher Sanchez are also options for the Phillies, but a playoff rotation of Wheeler, Nola, and Suarez is the most preferred option. Ranger Suarez was fantastic on the road this season while struggling to find his groove at Citizens Bank Park.

Ranger (Away): 3-3, 2.75 ERA
Ranger (Home): 0-3, 4.94 ERA

Zack Wheeler will start Game 2 on Monday. Aaron Nola, back home where again, he’s always at his very best, will start Game 3 next Wednesday at Citizens Bank Park.

Nola (Home): 6-3, 3.44 ERA
Nola (Road): 6-6, 5.58 ERA

The Phillies will enter the NLDS as “underdogs” just like they were last season when Suarez stole Game 1 in Atlanta. The Phillies jumped out to an early six-run lead in that game and held off a late rally by the Braves to earn the win.

In Game 2, the Braves responded with a shutout while Zack Wheeler was on the mound and the series was sent back to CBP tied 1-1.

The 2022 NLDS never returned to Atlanta.

The Phillies won the next two games at home, beating advancing to the NLCS against the San Diego Padres. They outscored the Braves 17-4 in the two wins at Citizens Bank Park and sent the Braves back to Atlanta, ending their otherwise impressive 2022 season.

Game 1: Spencer Strider vs Ranger Suarez

Opposing Suarez will be Braves ace Spencer Strider. On the season Strider was 20-5 with a 3.86 ERA. He has gone 7-0 with a 2.01 ERA over seven career starts against the Phillies in the regular season. He was 3-0 with a 1.45 ERA against Philly this season.

All that’s great for sure. Credit to Spencer Strider. The only problem is that NONE OF THOSE STATS MATTER in the postseason and the only thing I look at when it comes to Strider is his piss-poor performance last season when Rhys Hoskins bat slammed all over his face at Citizens Bank Park.

In the NLDS last season, Strider allowed five runs over 2.1 innings. We’ll see what type of “juice” he and the rest of the Braves have after not playing meaningful baseball in nearly a month.

My guess, it will play out exactly how it did last season and I’ll be singing “I Told You So” from the top of City Hall by next Friday.

MLB POSTSEASON: DIVISIONAL ROUND SCHEDULE

Saturday, Oct. 7

ALDS Game 1: No. 1 Orioles vs. No. 5 Rangers, 1:03 p.m. ET (FS1)
ALDS Game 1: No. 2 Astros vs. No. 3 Twins, 4:45 p.m. ET (FS1)
NLDS Game 1: No. 1 Braves vs. No. 4 Phillies, 6:07 p.m. ET (TBS)
NLDS Game 1: No. 2 Dodgers vs. No. 6 Diamondbacks, 9:20 p.m. ET (TBS)

Sunday, Oct. 8

ALDS Game 2: Orioles vs. Rangers, 4:07 p.m. ET (FS1)
ALDS Game 2: Astros vs. Twins, 8:03 p.m. ET (FS1)

Monday, Oct. 9

NLDS Game 2: Braves vs. Phillies, 6:07 p.m. ET (TBS)
NLDS Game 2: Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks, 9:07 p.m. ET (TBS)

Tuesday, Oct. 10

ALDS Game 3: Twins vs. Astros, 4:07 p.m. ET (Fox or FS1)
ALDS Game 3: Rangers vs. Orioles, 8:03 p.m. ET (Fox)

Wednesday, Oct. 11

NLDS Game 3: Phillies vs. Braves, TBD (TBS)
NLDS Game 3: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers, TBD (TBS)
ALDS Game 4*: Rangers vs. Orioles, TBD (Fox or FS1)
ALDS Game 4*: Twins vs. Astros, TBD (Fox or FS1)

Thursday, Oct. 12

NLDS Game 4*: Phillies vs. Braves, TBD (TBS)
NLDS Game 4*: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers, TBD (TBS)

Friday, Oct. 13

ALDS Game 5*: Orioles vs. Rangers, TBD (Fox or FS1)
ALDS Game 5*: Astros vs. Twins, TBD (Fox or FS1)

Saturday, Oct. 14

NLDS Game 5*: Braves vs. Phillies (TBS)
NLDS Game 5*: Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks (TBS)

Phillies-Braves Key Injuries:

Phillies: Rhys Hoskins (Not Expected to be ready until World Series)
Braves: Charlie Morton (OUT – Strained Right Index Finger), Max Fried (Probable – Game 2 Starter – Bad Blister)

Phillies NLDS Watch Party – Phans of Philly Los Angeles Takeover

For the 1,000+ Philadelphia Eagles fans heading to Los Angeles, we’ll be in Santa Monica with Phans of Philly watching Saturday’s Game 1 and Monday’s Game 2 at Britannia Pub. As indicated above, both games will begin at 3 PM West Coast time.

Phillies/Birds fans heading to LA!

See you at Brittania Pub in Santa Monica Saturday for game 1 of the NLDS! We are taking over for a watch party! @thebritanniaSM
— Phans of Philly – Road Game Tailgates & Travel! (@PhansofPhilly) October 5, 2023

$5 Miller Lites, $5 Seltzers, and $5 mixed drinks. Really can’t beat it. Again, that’s Britannia Pub (318 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401) which is great for anyone traveling with Phans of Philly since it’s just a 10 minute walk from the hotels.

Last Season with Phans of Philly we were in Scottsdale, Arizona and on the fly just like this year, Phans of Philly managed to schedule not one, but TWO watch parties for the Phillies Wild Card Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.