Instant analysis as Phillies now need a save from their Game 2 starter
· Yahoo Sports
The odds now greatly favor the Braves in their National League Wild Card Series against the Phillies at Truist Park.
And the recent struggles of the Phillies’ bullpen don’t generate much optimism to overcome recent trends.
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Austin Riley’s 3-run, 2-out home run off Jhoan Duran in the eighth inning gave Atlanta a dramatic 5-3 Game 1 win on Sept. 29.
Game 2 is Sept. 3 at 2 p.m. in Atlanta (NBC/Peacock).
Since best-of-3 wild-card playoffs were instituted in 2022, the winner of the first game has won the series 15 of 16 times.
That includes the Phillies over the Cardinals in 2022 and Marlins in 2023.
The only exception was last year, when the Yankees dropped Game 1 against the Red Sox but won the next two.
Jhoan Duran's earlier-than-usual appearance doesn't work
The Phillies will be left to lament their bullpen again not being able to silence the opposition.
And interim manager Don Mattingly's decision to have closer Jhoan Duran appear earlier and longer than normal backfired.
Rookie Alex McFarlane relieved starter Jesus Luzardo in the sixth inning and allowed Michael Harris II’s one-out single and Ozzie Albies’ RBI triple as the Braves went up, 2-1.
J.T. Realmuto’s two-run, two-out triple in the seventh inning inched the Phillies ahead, 3-2.
On came Duran, the closer who made an earlier-than-usual appearance in the seventh inning and retired all three batters he faced. That was promising.
The eighth inning was less enjoyable, though Duran was fortunate when Matt Olson lined a 100-mph shot directly into his glove. But Harris II’s two-out infield single and Albies being hit by a pitch preceded Riley’s smash.
Cristopher Sanchez to the rescue in Game 2?
That leaves starter Cristopher Sanchez to perhaps having to save the Phillies' season, a job for which he is certainly capable.
Sanchez (18-7, 2.91) starts for the Phillies with Tyler Mahle (7-10, 3.99) pitching for Atlanta in Game 2.
Sanchez, however, has lost three of his last five starts and his ERA had been 2.51 after an Aug. 17 start.
“Just try to be my best self every time I'm out there on the mound and just try to go out there and compete every time that I can,” Sanchez said of his plans. “Again, as I said, it's a short series, so it's just about going out there and getting as many 0s on the board as we can. On my end, it's just about being able to put the team in a good position to win, just trying to do that.”
Mahle was a mid-season trade acquisition from the Giants.
“Tyler has been huge for us,” said Braves manager Walt Weiss. “He's provided us with top-of-the-rotation type stuff. Been outstanding. The last one, had a bit of a tough one, but the other eight were just incredible.
“Been a big boost to our club. I'm not sure we're here without him. I can say that about a lot of guys, but he's one of them.”
Contact Kevin Tresolini at [email protected] and follow on Twitter @kevintresolini. Support local journalism by subscribing to delawareonline.com and our DE Game Day newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Instant analysis as Phillies now need a save from their Game 2 starter