Zack Wheeler, Phillies target 2-0 series lead against the Atlanta Braves

Drew Smith
October 9, 2023
Phillies
1 Comment

For the second straight year in the NLDS, the Philadelphia Phillies went into Atlanta and stole Game 1 from the Braves, winning 3-0.

Ranger Suarez got the start in Game 1 for the Phillies and pitched just 3.2 innings, allowing one hit, and a walk while striking out four. Rob Thomson and company then handed the game over to his bullpen and they delivered with flying colors.

Phillies Pitching – Game 1 Box Score

Bryce Harper Game 1: 2-2, HR, RBI, 2 R, 2 BB

Winning Game 1 on the road was massive. The numbers prove it and you have to think the Braves are now all thinking “not again” after winning 104 games during the regular season.

In all best-of-five postseason series, Game 1 winners on the road have gone on to take the series 105 of 148 times (71 percent). In Division Series with the current 2-2-1 format, teams that have won Game 1 on the road have advanced 30 of 42 times (also 71 percent).

Zack Wheeler vs Max Fried

Wheeler was 2-0 with a 3.32 ERA in three starts against the Braves this season. Since joining the Phillies, he’s 6-3 with a 2.46 ERA in 14 starts since 2020, including the postseason.

Opposing Wheeler will be Braves’ veteran Max Fried, who’s posted a 2.55 ERA in 14 starts this season. Fried missed a lot of time on the mound this year, dealing with a variety of injuries.

He missed April with a left hamstring straight then spent three months on the injured list with a left forearm strain. Most recently, he’s been dealing with a blister on his left index finger that developed over the final weeks of the regular season.

Philles lineup vs Max Fried:

Trea Turner: .400-BA/.462-OBP
JT Realmuto: .350-BA/3-HR
Bryce Harper: .300-BA/2-HR
Nick Castellanos: .615-BA/1-HR

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Phillies Projected Game 2 Lineup

With a left-handed pitcher on the mound in Fried, expect the Phillies to go back to the lineup we saw in the NL Wild Card series against the Marlins. Basically, everything stays the same except Brandon Marsh is swapped out for Cristian Pache in left field.

Kyle Schwarber, DH
Trea Turner, SS
Alec Bohm, 3B
Bryce Harper, 1B
JT Realmuto, C
Nick Castellanos, RF
Bryson Stott, 2B
Cristian Pache, LF
Johan Rojas, CF

Trea Turner Game 1 Double Play

Mission Accomplished: Steal Game 1

If The Fightins come out and win today with their ace on the mound and take a 2-0 series lead back with them to Citizens Bank Park, this series is over. Aaron Nola will be on the bump Wednesday night and Atlanta will counter with Bryce Edler or 20-year old AJ Smith-Shawver.

That’s a game that falls heavily in the Phillies favor, obviously.

Phans of Philly – Los Angeles Takeover

The Liberty Line crew is out in Santa Monica with Phans of Philly for yet another successful Eagles takeover. For those keeping track (which I’m sure a lot of you are), TLL is now a perfect 3-0 in Phillies postseason games and 3-0 in Eagles games when traveling with Phans of Philly.

“It’s no Wildwood..” 😂☀️😎#FlyEaglesFly | @PhansofPhilly pic.twitter.com/njDPg8oZdd
— The Liberty Line (@LibertyLinePHL) October 6, 2023

The tailgate was buzzing yesterday (Go Birds), and once the Phillies NLDS schedule was released, Phans jumped on it, renting out a few bars in Santa Monica to host hundreds of fans out here for the Phillies games. Game 1 watch party was a huge success and judging by the hundreds of fans still in Santa Monica until tomorrow, today should be no different.