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Riley’s Eighth‑Inning Homer Puts Braves One Win From NLDS

Atlanta’s late rally handed it a 5-3 Game 1 lead and shifted decisive pressure onto Philadelphia, where starter choice and thin bullpen options will shape a must-win Game 2.

Overview

  • The Braves beat the Phillies 5-3 in Game 1 thanks to Austin Riley’s two-out, three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth that erased a Philadelphia lead.
  • Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET at Truist Park and will be shown on NBC and Peacock with the winner advancing to the NL Division Series.
  • The Phillies will start left-hander Cristopher Sánchez while the Braves will go with right-hander Tyler Mahle, creating a lefty-righty matchup that affects lineups and matchups.
  • Philadelphia’s roster is short a key bat after Luis Arraez was left off the series roster with a sprained ankle and Otto Kemp was added, and both clubs must manage limited bullpen depth on a compressed schedule.
  • Winning Game 1 historically gives the victor a large edge in a best-of-three—21 of the last 24 winners advanced—so Atlanta’s victory on Tuesday significantly raised the stakes for Wednesday’s game.