The Atlanta Braves battled through a long list of pitching injuries that left their rotation depleted for their National League Wild Card Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
asserted
that → battle → Phillies
That’s why manager Walt Weiss and Braves players are glad to have ace left-hander Chris Sale on the mound for Tuesday’s opening game in the best-of-three series.
asserted
Weiss → ’ → series
“For sure, it’s a different feeling when a guy like that is taking the mound on a big day,” Weiss said Monday.
asserted
guy → ’ → day
Added first baseman Matt Olson: “It’s a great feeling.
asserted
It → add → ?
I wouldn’t want anyone else starting for us.”
asserted
anyone → want → us
The NL East champion Braves (94-68) went 9-4 against the second-place Phillies (88-74) and finished six games ahead of them in the regular season.
asserted
Braves → go → season
“He’s got to be one of the top two lefties in the league, top few pitchers in the league, so yeah, he presents a whole set of problems.
asserted
he → get → problems
But we’ve seen him a little bit,” said Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly.
asserted
Mattingly → see → him
“You know, we haven’t been great against him, but we’ll see.
asserted
we → know → him
Tomorrow’s a new day.”
asserted
Tomorrow → ’ → ?
Phillies All-Star left-hander Jesús Luzardo (14-5, 2.86) will start as an opener after being used for a scoreless eighth inning in Sunday’s 7-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays that finally clinched the third NL wild-card spot.
asserted
that → start → spot
Luzardo returned from a stint on the injured list with left shoulder inflammation.
asserted
Luzardo → return → inflammation
The wild-card opener will be his first start since throwing his first career shutout in a 1-0 home win over Atlanta on Sept. 7.
asserted
opener → throw → Sept.
Left-hander Martín Pérez could have been the third starter before landing on the 15-day injured list Thursday with lower back inflammation.
uncertain
Pérez → land → inflammation
The Braves also have lost starting pitchers Spencer Schwellenbach, Spencer Strider, Reynaldo López and Hurston Waldrep this season.
asserted
Braves → lose → Schwellenbach
Opener or starter
Luzardo might remain in the game longer than a normal opener if he comes close to the form he showed in recording 12 strikeouts in the shutout win over the Braves.
uncertain
he → remain → Braves
Mattingly said Monday he was glad Luzardo logged the inning on Sunday so he could “see the bounce-back today.”
uncertain
he → say → back
When asked if it was necessary to use Luzardo in the relief role if starting the Wild Card Series opener was an option, Mattingly said he wasn’t taking any chances in Sunday’s must-win situation.
asserted
he → ask → situation
“I don’t think it was a 100% had to,” Mattingly said.
asserted
Mattingly → think → ?
“But, you know, in that game, you’re not gonna let anything get away, right?
asserted
anything → know → game
You’re not going to let this thing creep back into a game, that type of thing.”
asserted
thing → go → thing
He was efficient in the shutout win over the Braves, allowing only two hits and one walk.
asserted
He → allow → hits
The game lasted just 1 hour, 51 minutes.
asserted
game → last → ?
Mattingly said second baseman Luis Arraez will not be on the Wild Card Series roster after spraining his left ankle on Thursday.
asserted
Arraez → say → Thursday
Braves right-hander Bryce Elder, expected to miss three to four weeks after surgery on his right knee Sept. 8, threw batting practice Monday but will not be on the roster for the series.
asserted
Elder → expect → series
Right-hander Joe Jiménez, who hasn’t pitched since 2024 due to three operations on his left knee, also threw batting practice.
asserted
who → pitch → practice
Weiss indicated Elder might have a chance to return if the Braves advance to the Division Series.
uncertain
Braves → indicate → Series
Following a celebration in the clubhouse after Sunday’s win, the Phillies had a quick flight to Atlanta for Monday’s workout.
asserted
Phillies → follow → workout
Mattingly and his players were still reflecting on the stressful final week of the regular season that included four straight losses before the clinching win.
asserted
that → reflect → win
“It kind of feels like it sums up our whole season a little bit,” shortstop Trea Turner said.
asserted
Turner → feel → season
I think we knew that.
asserted
we → think → that
We wanted to play well.
asserted
We → want → ?
We wanted to get in as soon as possible.
asserted
We → want → ?
You don’t want to wait until the last day.”
asserted
You → want → day
The Aporia
