The Atlanta Braves wrap up their series against the Philadelphia Phillies with a Sunday afternoon game at Truist Park, first pitch set for 1:35 PM ET on September 13. This is a late-season regular season clash between two NL East rivals who know each other well, and with the calendar winding down toward October, every game between these clubs carries weight. Grant Holmes takes the ball for Atlanta against Philadelphia's Andrew Painter in what shapes up as a compelling pitching matchup between two arms with something to prove.
Probable Starters: Grant Holmes vs. Andrew Painter
Holmes gets the nod for the Braves in this one. The right-hander has been working his way through the Atlanta rotation, and a strong outing against a lineup as dangerous as Philadelphia's would do plenty for his standing heading into the final stretch of the regular season. This is the kind of start that can define a pitcher's September.
On the other side, Andrew Painter takes the mound for the Phillies. Painter has been one of the more closely watched young arms in the National League, and he'll look to give Philadelphia a quality start and keep the Braves offense in check at Truist Park. Facing him is no easy ask for any lineup.
Keys to Watch in Sunday's Game
- Holmes's command: Against a Philadelphia lineup built to punish any mistakes, Holmes will need to work efficiently and keep his pitch count manageable deep into the game. Walks will hurt him in a hurry against this order.
- Attacking Painter early: Young starters can be vulnerable before they settle in. The Braves will want to put pressure on Painter in the first two innings before he finds his rhythm.
- Bullpen depth: A Sunday afternoon game in September means both clubs may be managing their relief corps carefully after what could be a long week. Whoever gets length from their starter wins the leverage battle.
- NL East implications: Philadelphia and Atlanta have been chasing each other all season. A win here does more than add a tick in the standings column — it sends a message with limited regular season games remaining.
How to Watch Braves vs. Phillies on Sunday
Atlanta fans can catch the game on BravesVision or tune in on radio via 680 AM and 93.7 FM The Fan. Spanish-language coverage is available on 106.1 Rumba and Los Bravos. Philadelphia's broadcast airs on NBCSP and 1210 WPHT.
Prediction
This one comes down to which starter controls the strike zone. Holmes has the home-field advantage at Truist Park and the crowd behind him, but Painter is talented enough to quiet that noise fast if the Braves don't get to him early. Give the edge to Atlanta in a close, low-scoring game where the bullpens decide the final outcome. Braves 4, Phillies 3.
