Phillies vs Braves Wildcard Series Predictions & Best Bets

The six-month and 162-game wait is over – the MLB Playoffs are finally here! Twelve teams remain standing, while the other 18 are busy cleaning out their lockers. We kick things off with the Wild Card round, with all four series starting on Tuesday. Before all the action starts, here are your winning plays. We begin in the National League, with National League East rivals the Philadelphia Phillies facing the Atlanta Braves.

Phillies vs Braves Wildcard Series Predictions & Best Bets

#6 Philadelphia Phillies vs #3 Atlanta Braves

Game 1: Tuesday, 2:00 PM ET @ Atlanta

Game 2: Wednesday, 2:00 PM ET @ Philadelphia

Game 3: Thursday, 2:00 PM ET @ Atlanta

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before – the Atlanta Braves won the National League East pennant this season. Yes, you have, in fact, heard that statement before – seven times in the past nine years, to be precise. Most things change, but the Braves dominating their division is not one of them.

However, postseason success has been elusive for Atlanta, even during this dominant run, with 2021 being the only season they won the ultimate prize, the World Series. And playoff success against the Philadelphia Phillies has been even more elusive than elusive (if that’s a thing), as the Phils have beaten the Braves the last three times they’ve met in the postseason: 1993, 2022, and 2023.

However (again), I fully expect this year to be a different story. Philadelphia had to battle until Game 162 to earn their spot in the playoffs, meaning they had to use their #2 (or 3) starter, Zack Wheeler, on Sunday to ensure they punched their ticket to the postseason. With Wheeler out of the running for the series, it’s up in the air as to who the Phillies will start for Game 1.

The Phillies had to start Wheeler to save their season because they’ve been bad for a while, going 4-6, 8-12, and 14-16 over their last 10, 20, and 30 games, respectively (Atlanta was 6-4, 10-10, 18-12 over the same span). An offense that went into a nosedive and ongoing bullpen issues were the culprits.

Outside of all of this, Atlanta is just a better baseball team, full stop. A better offense, better starting pitching (led by the expected Cy Young runner-up Chris Sale), and a better bullpen. Plus, going 52-29 at home is a nice touch since two of these three games (if necessary) will be played in Truist Park in Atlanta. As is a 9-4 head-to-head record against Philadelphia this season.

I thought I’d have to get fancy with my bet and pick the Braves to win in two of three games, but was pleasantly surprised to see them as only a -125 favorite to win the series. That’s my play. As is Atlanta’s Matt Olson to homer in the series at +105. This seems like found money to me, as Olson hit 41 balls out this season, including four against Philadelphia in the 13 games he played against them this year (including the photo at the top of this article).

Best Bets: Atlanta to win series (-125); Matt Olson to homer in series (+105)