The Phillies woke up a 104-win sleeping giant late in Game 2 of the NLDS on Monday. There are two things that can put it back to sleep: Aaron Nola and a venue known colloquially as “The Bank.”
It all starts, literally and figuratively, in inning No. 1.
By OPS, these Braves are the second-most prolific first-inning team in MLB history. By home runs, total bases and slugging percentage, they are the most. But so far this postseason, Atlanta has met its match: The Phillies held them to 0-for-6 with four strikeouts across the first innings of the first two games. Nola surrendered a 3.66 ERA in the first inning this regular season — his second best collective inning overall, by that measure.
It’s imperative he continue that trend. There’s no doubt Citizens Bank Park will be loud from the time the gates open on Wednesday; likely well before. Phillies fans, over the last two years especially, have built a reputation they intend to uphold.
An Atlanta run or two in the first wouldn’t change that. But tensions rose a bit across the Delaware Valley in the final four innings of Game 2, and it’s not just because the Braves evened the series at one apiece: It’s because the Braves now have life, and if momentum is real in October, they have all of it.
A hot start for the Braves means more than just an early lead. It means any bit of dread they might feel entering a place that haunted them in last year’s postseason could dissipate immediately. Manager Brian Snitker was asked on Tuesday whether the Philadelphia crowd made any impact on the Braves in last year’s NLDS, and his answer was unambiguous. “Yeah,” he said. “It’s as nuts of a place as I’ve ever been.” The Braves never led in either of their two away games in that series. It’s not hard to imagine that fact and the degree to which the Citizens Bank Park crowd seemed to affect them having something to do with each other.
The Braves still haven’t named a starter yet for Game 3, but the leading candidates seem to be Bryce Elder and A.J. Smith-Shawver. Whether it’s the second-year or the rookie, either would be making his postseason debut.
“You’re going to be nervous,” Braves reliever A.J. Minter said Tuesday about any given pitcher making his postseason debut. “There’s no way getting around it. There’s going to be butterflies.” Snitker said the “wild scenario” that is the Citizens Bank Park playoff environment will factor into the Braves’ starting pitching decision.
Those are factors of which the home team needs to take advantage. The Phillies could fall down 4-0 in the first inning, and Snitker’s characterization — “as nuts of a place as I’ve ever been” — would likely still fit. But rowdy as it may be, the atmosphere might not get to the Braves quite as much as it did last year if they’re sitting on an early cushion and their starter got through his first playoff inning without any hiccups.
It’s up to Nola in the top of the first — and the Phillies’ offense in the bottom half — to prevent them from doing so.
Must-read (or watch) Phillies content
- Did Orlando Arcia make a mistake by poking the bear that is Bryce Harper after the Braves’ Game 2 win? Phillies Nation‘s Tim Kelly has the analysis.
- Here’s the original story of the Braves’ clubhouse scene after that game, from FOX Sports‘ Jake Mintz.
- Which advantage matters more: home-field or momentum? Tyler Kepner of The Athletic wrote about that battle ahead of Game 3.
- Paul Hagen of NBC Sports Philadelphia wrote about the opportunity facing Aaron Nola on Wednesday.
- After a crushing Game 2, The Philadelphia Inquirer‘s Alex Coffey gives five reasons for optimism as the series heads back to Philly.
- Also from the Inquirer: Matt Breen on the Braves not yet naming a Game 3 starter, and the Phillies not caring.
- Yet another reason to go to Game 3 (or 4):
Former Phillie Nation
- Kyle Gibson pitched well for the Orioles on Tuesday, allowing one run in three innings out of the bullpen. Unfortunately for Gibson and the O’s, it was his last appearance of the season, as Baltimore was swept by Texas.
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