Braves beat Phillies 6-2, advance to NLDS against Dodgers

The Atlanta Braves advanced to the National League Divisional Series by defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 6-2 in Game Three of their Wild Card Series on Thursday night at Truist Park in Atlanta.

Michael Harris II hit a three-run home run in the first inning off Phillies starter Aaron Nola, a 2-0 sinker that Harris connected on after walks to Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson. According to Sports Info Solutions, it was the lowest pitch Harris has hit for a home run in his major league career. Ozzie Albies added a two-run homer in the fourth inning, and Matt Olson contributed a solo shot in the seventh. The Braves' offensive output proved decisive: the Phillies managed no runs with runners in scoring position across six at-bats.

The Braves' pitching strategy employed six arms. Ray Kerr opened the game and delivered 3⅓ scoreless innings with one hit and one walk allowed. Grant Holmes (1-0) followed with his postseason debut, giving up one run over two innings. Relief pitchers Robert Suarez, Didier Fuentes, Dylan Dodd, and Chris Sale combined to allow one run over 3⅔ innings. Sale, who started Game One on Tuesday after pitching 6⅓ innings, made his first relief appearance since the 2018 World Series (aside from a 2025 appearance). He struck out nine batters across the series and earned two strikeouts in the final two innings of Game Three.

The victory ended Atlanta's six-game losing streak in elimination games dating to the 2018 Division Series against the Dodgers, and marked their first winner-take-all postseason win since Game 7 of the 1996 NL Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Braves will face the Los Angeles Dodgers in a best-of-five NLDS beginning Saturday in Los Angeles. The loss ended Philadelphia's four-year streak of reaching at least the NLDS round and extended their losing streak in winner-take-all postseason games to four consecutive such losses.