Podcast Episode
#50 | Postseason Preview: Phillies Battle Braves in NL Wild Card Series
About this episode
The Phillies are headed to Atlanta for a third postseason matchup with the Braves in five seasons — and there are plenty of questions heading into Game 1.Jesús Luzardo gets the ball Tuesday, but how long will he actually pitch? Andrew Painter is expected to be available out of the bullpen, while Cristopher Sánchez is lined up for Game 2 and Aaron Nola could get the start in a potential Game 3. And where does Zack Wheeler fit into the equation?Josh Liddick and Austin Myers break down the Phillies’ Wild Card roster, including Luis Arraez being left off with an ankle sprain and Otto Kemp taking his place. They also discuss the decision to carry three catchers, the remaining bullpen questions and what the Phillies’ lineup has historically done against Atlanta.Plus, the guys revisit the Phillies-Braves postseason history from 2022 and 2023, examine the key head-to-head numbers for Philadelphia’s hitters and pitchers, and make their predictions for the entire National League Wild Card Series slate.Can the Phillies take care of business in Atlanta and advance to the NLDS?Follow and leave a five-star review for Catchin’ Phils: A Phillies Podcast on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, and iHeartRadio, and subscribe to Josh Liddick (Red Pinstripe Press) and Austin Myers (Phillies Perspective) on Substack to get their latest work straight to your inbox. The podcast is also streaming weekly on the Catchin' Phils YouTube channel.Follow Catchin’ Phils on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X for more content.Episode timestamps:00:00 Introduction to the Playoff Series02:57 Phillies vs. Braves: A Rivalry Renewed05:56 Pitching Concerns and Strategies09:01 Game One Preview: Lazardo's Role12:06 Game Two and Three Predictions14:48 Roster Changes and Player Availability17:46 Final Thoughts and Expectations32:15 Postseason Roster Decisions and Managerial Strategies34:43 Rivalry Dynamics: Phillies vs. Braves37:59 Playoff Atmosphere and Fan Engagement39:06 Pitching Matchups and Their Impact41:02 Key Player Performances and Historical Context45:24 Exploiting Weaknesses: Phillies vs. Braves48:32 Home Field Advantage: Myth or Reality?50:01 Predictions and Expectations for the Series