Phillies vs. Braves Prediction: Best Bets and Picks for Wild Card Game 3

Phillies vs. Braves Picks in Summary

• Phillies Moneyline (-110)

It all comes down to this.

The Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves will settle their NL Wild Card Series tonight in a winner-take-all Game 3 at Truist Park. After Atlanta rallied to steal Game 1, Philadelphia answered with a dramatic extra-inning victory in Game 2, setting up one more showdown between the NL East rivals.

With a trip to the NLDS on the line, let's break down the Phillies-Braves matchup and highlight our favorite bet.

All MLB odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook and may change after this article is published.

Phillies vs. Braves Game 3 Prediction

Phillies Moneyline (-110)

The pitching plans have been announced for tonight’s Philadelphia Phillies-Atlanta Braves clash — lefty Ray Kerr is opening for Atlanta while Aaron Nola is getting the ball for the Phillies.

That’s all we know in terms of certainties. We can make some guesses for potential pitching plans, though.

On the Atlanta side, righty Grant Holmes is an option to fill a couple of frames while the Phillies have Jesus Luzardo, Zack Wheeler and bullpen star Jhoan Duran as possible choices after Nola, who will likely be on a short leash.

While the uncertainty surrounding the pitching plans adds some risk, I think Philly’s pitching options are a little better than the Braves’ possibilities.

Nola produced a 3.93 SIERA and 23.8% K rate in 2026, recovering from a slow start to the season. He has 55.2 innings of playoff experience and has thrived in October, pitching to a sparkling 2.91 SIERA. Wheeler pitched on Sunday to help clinch the Phillies’ postseason berth and threw 97 pitches, so he probably doesn’t have too much in the tank today. But he recorded a 3.17 SIERA, 29.9% K rate and 14.0% swinging-strike rate this year, so even if it’s just for an inning or two, he’s an excellent option.

For the Braves, Holmes struggled to a 4.78 SIERA this campaign and permitted 1.31 jacks per nine. He didn’t have a good year, and Holmes has never pitched in the postseason.

All in all, I’ll back the Phillies in what is a near pick’em.

Phillies vs. Braves Game 3 Frequently Asked Questions

When is Phillies vs. Braves Game 3?

Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves is scheduled for Thursday, October 1, 2026. First pitch is set for 8:00 p.m. ET at Truist Park in Atlanta.

Who is pitching for the Phillies in Game 3?

Aaron Nola is scheduled to start for Philadelphia. With the Phillies' season on the line, they could also turn to several other pitchers behind Nola depending on how the game unfolds.

Who is pitching for the Braves in Game 3?

Atlanta is expected to open the game with left-hander Ray Kerr. Right-hander Grant Holmes is among the Braves' options to provide multiple innings after Kerr.

What happens to the winner of Phillies vs. Braves Game 3?

This is a winner-take-all matchup. The winner advances to the National League Division Series to face the Dodgers.

What does a moneyline bet mean in MLB?

A moneyline wager is simply a bet on which team will win the game, regardless of the final score. For example, betting the Phillies moneyline means Philadelphia must win Game 3 for the wager to cash.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.