Game Preview
While Atlanta will host the Philadelphia Phillies for three games starting on Monday night, it is unclear whether MVP candidate Ronald Acuna Jr. will be in the lineup for the Braves as they look to rebound from a weekend sweep.
After suffering right calf stiffness on Friday, the power hitting right fielder did not return for either Saturday or Sunday’s games. On Monday, after he finishes his workout, we’ll know how much time he has available. Acuna has a.337 batting average, 37 home runs, 98 RBIs, and 66 steals on the year.
Atlanta won three of four games against Philadelphia last week and clinched the National League East. The Braves have a 7-3 advantage in the season series.
After not losing a series to a division rival since April of 2021, the Braves were swept by the Miami Marlins over the weekend. The Phillies won two of three at St. Louis, but they lost the rubber match, 6-5, on Sunday.
After Sunday’s loss by Milwaukee to Washington, the Braves were assured of a first-round bye in the playoffs. In the fight for the first NL wild card spot, Philadelphia is currently ahead of Arizona by three games.
Zack Wheeler (11-6, 3.70 ERA) of the Philadelphia Phillies will face Kyle Wright (0-2, 7.48 ERA) of the Atlanta Braves in the opening game of the series.
Wheeler’s upcoming start will be his 30th of the year. This season, he is 1-0 against the Braves with a 4.15 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 13 innings pitched. His last start, on Tuesday, against the Braves was in a 7-6 extra-innings loss for Atlanta as he allowed six runs in five innings.
Wright will start for the eighth time in his career tonight against the Phillies. His record against them is 2-for-4 with a 5.13 ERA.
Alec Bohm, the Phillies’ third baseman, had a strong series against the Cardinals. Over the course of the three games, he batted.417 (5-for-12) with a home run and two RBIs. In his career, he has faced Atlanta 48 times, and he has hit.309.
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Philadelphia Phillies vs Atlanta Braves Game Information
- Date: 09/18/2023
- Time: 07:20 PM ET
- Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, Georgia.
- How to Watch: Phillies vs Braves MLB.TV
- Live Stream: MLB.TV
