Aaron Nola dominated in his first career postseason start and he has been pitching very well down the stretch. Spencer Strider is expected to make his first start in about a month after returning from an oblique injury so I doubt he does more than 4 or 5 innings. This will also be his first career postseason start. However, this is a must win game for the Phillies behind their ace. They have Bailey Falter (or Kyle Gibson but I think they go Falter) and Ranger Suarez scheduled to go in Games 4 and 5 if they lose, and the Braves crush lefties. Aaron Nola should get deep enough in the game where he can bridge it to their best bullpen arms, and I think their bullpen should be good enough to save it this time. I also like Phillies F5 to avoid the Phillies bullpen. Cant believe I have to say this, but there is absolutely no chance the Braves use both Morton and Strider in this game and sacrifice having a Game 4 starter. There is no reason to push Max Fried then Kyle Wright to both start on 3 days rest in a Division series and sacrifice them being on normal rest going into a 7 game Conference series. It would significantly hinder them for a Conference Series that they expect to play in, and they have one of the best bullpens in the league. Why avoid using it? They will also want Charlie Morton starting an elimination game if they lose today, so there is absolutely no reason to use both of them in this game.

Well we still don't officially know who the Braves starter will be but most likely Charlie Morton perhaps followed by Spencer Strider. Neither have pitched in quite a while, while the Phillies start Aaron Nola (3.25 ERA), who has a 2.56 ERA this year during the day. Citizens Bank Park (where the Phils were 13 games over .500) should be rocking as it hosts its first playoff game in more than a decade. Still a football town, though, so I expect at least one "Cowboys suck" chant regarding Sunday night.