Phillies Down Braves, Advance To NLCS

The Atlanta Braves won 104 games in the regular season. The Phillies won 90. But despite the National League East’s 14-game deficit during the regular season, the Phillies beat the Braves to advance to the National League Championship Series.

Here’s how it happened.

The Phillies won three games against Atlanta while winning only one. The Atlanta Braves’ only victory came in Game 2, when Zach Wheeler held the Braves without a hit until five. After six hours, Wheeler allowed just one earned run.

The Braves were able to score two runs in the seventh and two in the eighth to defeat the Phillies in stunning fashion 5-4.

But other than that, the Braves were quiet. Overall, the Phillies outscored the Braves 20-8 in four games and earned a series victory in Philadelphia on Thursday night.

That means the Phillies will advance to the National League Championship Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, who eliminated the Los Angeles Dodgers in the other NLDS game.

The Diamondbacks swept the Los Angeles Dodgers, who struggled offensively in their first playoff series.

The Diamondbacks are led by pitchers Zac Gallen And Merrill Kelly. Their attack is led by people like Ch.Christian Walker, Corbin CarrollAnd Ketel Marte.

The Phillies, of course, have starters Zach Wheeler And Aaron Nola, with a long cast of offensive players, led by Bryce Harper. On paper, the series might favor the Phillies, but of course, the games have to be played.

The National League Championship Series schedule is as follows:

• Monday, October 16, Philadelphia 8:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, October 17, Philadelphia, 8:00 p.m.
• Thursday October 19, Phoenix, 5:00 p.m.
• Friday October 20, Phoenix, 8:00 p.m.
• Saturday October 21, Phoenix, 8:00 p.m.
• Monday, October 23, Philadelphia, (if necessary) 5:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, October 24, Philadelphia, (if necessary) 8:00 p.m.

The Phillies should be able to start starters Wheeler and Aaron Nola each two games in the NLCS. Wheeler should be ready for the first match, probably against Gallen, and Nola ready for the second match against Kelly.

The Diamondbacks’ current depth chart has only one additional starter available to pitch: right-hander Brandon Pfaadt. The Diamondbacks could have a tougher time in a seven-game series.

Meanwhile, the Phillies only used Wheeler, Nola and Ranger Suarez to navigate the first two rounds of the playoffs. The Phillies will be forced to use a fourth, either Taijuan Walker, Christopher Sánchez, Or Michel Lorenzen.

The Phillies have a few days to make such a decision. The series will not begin until Monday. Until then, the Phillies can party, relax and prepare.