The Atlanta Braves head to Citizens Bank Park on Monday, September 7 for a 1:05 PM ET first pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies in a regular season matchup that carries real weight in the NL standings. Grant Holmes gets the ball for Atlanta against Phillies left-hander Jesús Luzardo. With a loaded Philadelphia lineup ready to go and a road environment that is rarely friendly to visiting clubs, the Braves will need a clean outing from Holmes and timely production from their offense to leave Philly with a win.

Pitching Matchup: Grant Holmes vs. Jesús Luzardo

Holmes steps into a tough spot. Citizens Bank Park is one of the more hitter-friendly venues in the National League, and the Phillies can punish a starter who misses his spots. Holmes will need to work efficiently, limit walks, and keep the ball in the ballpark if Atlanta wants to stay in this game deep into the middle innings.

Luzardo is a capable arm who can generate swing-and-miss with his stuff. Atlanta's lineup will need to grind through his pitch count early and force the Philadelphia bullpen into action. Patience at the plate and a disciplined approach against his secondary pitches will be key.

Philadelphia Lineup: A Threat From Top to Bottom

Manager Rob Thomson has put together a lineup that demands respect at every spot. Kyle Schwarber leads off as the designated hitter, giving the Phillies a power threat before the lineup even turns over. Trea Turner bats second at shortstop, bringing both speed and contact ability. Bryce Harper slots in at three as the cleanup-caliber force in right field, and Luis Arraez follows at second base — one of the toughest contact hitters in the game.

Alec Bohm at first base, Bryson Stott at third, and Brandon Marsh in left round out a middle-to-bottom of the order that can still do serious damage. J.T. Realmuto behind the plate brings elite receiving and pop, and Justin Crawford bats ninth in center field. There is no soft underbelly here. Holmes has to execute.

Keys to Watch for Atlanta

• Holmes's command: Walks to Schwarber or Turner at the top of the order can escalate quickly with Harper and Arraez waiting.
• Braves offensive patience: Luzardo can be worked. Atlanta needs to make him earn every out and get into the Phillies bullpen.
• First-inning run prevention: Citizens Bank Park crowds feed off early runs. Keeping Schwarber and Turner off the bases in the first inning sets a different tone for the day.
• Bullpen availability: If Holmes can give the Braves five or six quality innings, Atlanta's relief corps will have a manageable workload for the afternoon.

Prediction

This is a road game against a dangerous lineup with the pitching matchup favoring Philadelphia on paper. The Phillies are at home, their lineup is set, and Luzardo is a legitimate obstacle. That said, the Braves are capable of turning a game like this on a single big inning. It figures to be a competitive afternoon. Phillies 5, Braves 3 — but Atlanta makes them earn it.

Catch the game on BravesVision or listen on 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan. Spanish-language coverage is available on Los Bravos and the iHeart App.