Rays win AL East, but are Yankees still favorites without Judge?
Bob Nightengale examines where the Yankees stand in the AL pecking order after the Rays claim the East and Aaron Judge is sidelined.
Sports Seriously
The Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies meet in the MLB postseason for the third time in five years, facing off in the best-of-three National League wild card series beginning Tuesday, Sept. 27 at Truist Park in Georgia.
Atlanta won the NL East, leading the division for the entirety of the season. The Phillies got off to a miserable start and fired manager Rob Thomson, with Philadelphia’s star-studded roster eventually turning things around to get into a comfortable position in the wild card standings. But the wheels came off for the Phillies in the final week, nearly coughing up the NL’s final wild card spot.
The Phillies beat the Braves in the 2022 and 2023 NL Division Series, the first coming as a major upset when Atlanta was the reigning World Series champion. Philadelphia won the NL East in 2024 and 2025, but Atlanta’s return to the summit deprived the Phillies of a three-peat. Atlanta has lost its last three postseason series dating back to the 2022 NLDS.
Cy Young winner Chris Sale is expected to start Game 1 for the Braves, with Cristopher Sanchez the likely pitcher for the Phillies on Tuesday afternoon. Atlanta won the season series 9-4.
Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports MLB experts see the NL wild card series shaking out:
Braves vs. Phillies predictions
- Bob Nightengale: Atlanta in 3
- Gabe Lacques: Atlanta in 2
- Jesse Yomtov: Phillies in 2
Braves vs Phillies schedule
Wild card series at Truist Park in Atlanta. Game 3 time subject to change.
- Game 1, Tuesday: Phillies at Braves – buy tickets – 2 p.m. ET, NBC & Peacock
- Game 2, Wednesday: Phillies at Braves – buy tickets – 2 p.m. ET, NBC & Peacock
- Game 3*, Thursday: Phillies at Braves – buy tickets – 2 p.m. ET, NBC & Peacock
