The playoff matchups have been set, and the Atlanta Braves now know who they'll be facing in the Wild Card round on Tuesday afternoon. Despite the Phillies doing their best to blow their chance at the postseason, they squeaked their way in after dominating the Rays in the final game of the season. There are a couple of silver linings. Philly used Zack Wheeler on Sunday, so he won't be available to pitch in at least the first two games of the Wild Card.
The second silver lining is that the Braves played extremely well against their division rivals this year. Atlanta was 9-4 against Philly during the regular season. That bodes extremely well for the Braves, but we all know how tough the Phillies can be in the postseason. The times for the NL Wild Card games were set on Sunday by Major League Baseball, and they aren't what fans hoped for. Atlanta and Philly will face off at 2 p.m. EST during games one and two of the series.
That had us curious about how well the Braves have performed in daytime games this season. Believe it or not, Atlanta has the fourth-best daytime winning percentage in 2026 at 29-21. The Braves did, however, play the third-fewest day games.
Braves have to continue their domination of the Phillies in 2026 if they want a shot at the World Series
A concern to consider is that the team's offensive attack isn't nearly as good in day games compared to night games. The Braves' slash line is .237/.303/.384 with a .688 OPS during the day versus a .251/.313/.421 slash line and a .734 OPS at night.
Although, the Braves are lucky to have home field advantage, as they've performed much better at home. Atlanta has a .259 average at Truist Park this season versus a .230 average at Citizens Bank Park. The team has won a lot more at home as well, with a 52-29 record at home and a 42-38 record on the road. That will be something to consider should the Braves move on from the Wild Card round.
Fans will be a little cautious about the team's chances since the Phillies are 10-4 against the Braves in postseason play. Atlanta has been bounced from the playoffs in the first round the last three years, twice at the hands of Philly. Everyone hopes history doesn't repeat itself in 2026. There's reason to be skeptical, but this Braves team has found a way to win the division despite their offensive inconsistency and plethora of pitching injuries.
They'll have to prove to Braves fans they can find a way when it matters the most. The talent is there; it's just a matter of getting the big hits when the opportunity presents itself and hoping your pitchers can get out of tough spots.
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