Phillies vs Braves

On Friday, Philadelphia will host its first playoff game at Citizens Bank Park since 2011.

The last time the Phillies played a home playoff game at Citizens Bank Park was Oct. It all unraveled after that as the Braves evened the series at a game apiece with a 3-0 victory over the Phillies that tied the best-of-five series at 1-1. The Phillies will host a playoff game for the first time since Oct. They might need a gem from Nola on Friday, and they might need Kyle Gibson to resurrect himself Saturday, but Wednesday can be the last time anybody hears that racist Tomahawk Chop chant in 2022. If it goes to Game 5, Ranger Suárez would be in line for the start five days after struggling through 3⅓ innings in Game 1. After Nola in Game 3 will come one of a bunch of bad options in Game 4. The Phillies’ best chance at beating the Braves was to beat them in three games: steal Game 1, then ride your two elite starters the rest of the way. Nobody had expected them to win Game 1, which leaves the series exactly where you might have hoped it would be as the series shifts to Citizens Bank Park for Games 3 and 4 on Friday and Saturday. The Phillies love their chances with Aaron Nola in Game 3. 5, and as a team, the Braves hit lefties better than righties in the regular season. “Especially the first inning on the first pitch…But my main focus was to not try to be anybody I’m not, and not try to do anything more than what I’ve done all year. “They say it’s something special,” said Nola, who will get the start in Game 3, the first playoff game in Philly since 2011.

2008 World Series champion Shane Victorino will throw out the first pitch in Game 3 of the NLDS between the Phillies and the Braves at Citizens Bank Park.

Sabathia for one of the biggest home runs in Phillies history with this grand slam in Game 2: In the 2008 NLDS, Victorino hit .357 with an OPS of 1.256. Former centerfielder Shane Victorino will be doing the honors on Friday:

Postseason baseball is coming to Citizens Bank Park for the first time in 11 years on Friday.

The Braves have not yet announced their starter, though Snitker indicated [Spencer Strider](/mlb/players/2837573/spencer-strider/) (11-5, 2.67 ERA) will pitch in some capacity. To be specific, their last home postseason game was Game 5 of the 2011 NLDS, when then- Not only will Game 3 be the Phillies' first home postseason game since 2011, it'll be their first home game period since Sept. [Phillies](https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/teams/PHI/philadelphia-phillies/) will host Games 3 and 4 of their NLDS matchup with the defending World Series champion [Atlanta Braves](https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/teams/ATL/atlanta-braves/), and Game 4 is indeed necessary. Louis for the Wild Card Series, and then went to Atlanta for the first two games of the NLDS. knotted the series up at a game apiece Wednesday](https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/braves-vs-phillies-takeaways-atlanta-ties-nlds-behind-bats-of-olson-riley-darnaud/live/).

The Philadelphia Phillies' long wait for a home game ends Friday when they play host to the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of the National League Division Series.

He was hit by a Zack Wheeler fastball on the right elbow in the sixth inning but stayed in the game. "When I was a third-base coach, every game we played there was nuts. "I think we just never lose that faith," Acuna Jr. "I've been in Philly when it's crazy," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "It's going to be electric. Rhys Hoskins, who misplayed a grounder by Matt Olson which led to Atlanta's go-ahead run in Game 2, is 1-for-18 with six strikeouts. It will be the Phillies' first home playoff game since 2011 when they ultimately fell in five games in the NLDS to the St. "It feels great (to be home); I don't think I've done laundry in a month," Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh said. The right-hander was spectacular in his postseason debut against the Cardinals, tossing 6 2/3 scoreless innings on four hits. It's something special." Feels good to be back and playing in front of our crowd." Getting back to something of a regular routine has been welcomed.

The Phillies will lean on Nola on Friday night in their first postseason game in Philly in 11 years.

"I've been warned it's going to get rowdy," Marsh said. It's really good to be home." That's what we can't wait for We know it's going to be electric." "I don't know if it's true, but it seemed like it to me. "I think he's probably got the most longevity here as far as on our pitching staff so I think it's fitting that he's the first starter back here, no doubt." Game 3 between the Phillies and Atlanta Braves hits CBP on Friday.

The Atlanta Braves won 101 games in the regular season compared to 87 for the Philadelphia Phillies. They are sitting on relatively even footing heading ...

[MLB](/mlb/) this season for hitters both in run-scoring environment and in home runs. Minter](/mlb/players/2449982/a-j-minter/). In 21 1/3 innings against the Phillies this year, he struck out 34(!) while posting a 1.27 ERA and 0.66 WHIP. In Game 2 of the Wild Card Series, he threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings with six strikeouts against a walk. [Atlanta Braves](https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/teams/ATL/atlanta-braves/) won 101 games in the regular season compared to 87 for the [Philadelphia Phillies](https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/teams/PHI/philadelphia-phillies/). He was worse on the road this season, but still had a 3.25 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. Should this thing be close going into the late innings, it's a big advantage for the Braves. And he was a mess on the road, with a 5.72 ERA. The Phillies dispatched of the NL Central champion [Cardinals](https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/teams/STL/st-louis-cardinals/) in the Wild Card Series and then stunned the Braves with a Game 1 victory in Atlanta against ace [Max Fried](/mlb/players/2001078/max-fried/). In five starts against the Phillies, he had a 5.47 ERA with a 7.04 ERA in his three starts in Philadelphia. He took a step backward this season, too, pitching to a 4.34 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. In terms of head-to-head action, these two teams played 10 times in Citizens Bank Park this season and each team won five.

The Atlanta Braves head on the road for Game 3 of the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday with the series tied 1-1. Manager Brian Snitker has ...

It appears Snitker is deciding between the rookie and Charlie Morton. The Braves are weighing all the scenarios. Manager Brian Snitker has yet to name his starting pitcher for the contest but made it very clear NL Rookie of the Year frontrunner Spencer Strider will pitch at some point.

The Atlanta Braves have yet to decide if Spencer Strider or Charlie Morton will face the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 3.

While Snitker has yet to make the call, he would be smart to tap Strider for Friday and Morton for Saturday. The first scenario guarantees Philadelphia a major advantage in one of the games, but a major disadvantage in the other. Ultimately, however, they want to be in the best possible position to win every day. If, on the other hand, they face Strider in Game 3 and Morton in Game 4, the Phillies would find themselves at a slight disadvantage in both games. Obviously, the Phillies do not actually get to make this choice. The second scenario puts the Phillies at a disadvantage in both games, but it is a relatively small one, all things considered. Luckily for Philadelphia, he should be just as inclined to distribute his resources evenly. However, the very next day, they would be at quite a disadvantage, with Strider going up against one of Bailey Falter, Noah Syndergaard, or Kyle Gibson. Meanwhile, the last time they faced Strider, he held them to one run in six innings, striking out 10. There is no doubt it has been a difficult choice for Snitker, who still seems to be mulling over his options. Unfortunately for Atlanta, an oblique injury has kept him off the mound for nearly a month—he has not seen MLB action since Sept. Spencer Strider had a phenomenal rookie season, posting a 2.67 ERA in 131.2 IP.