LIVE on FOX: Phillies-Braves Game 1 FAQ, lineups

ATLANTA -- Familiarity won’t be an issue when the Phillies and Braves battle in the National League Division Series. This will be the first time the National League East rivals have met in the postseason since Philadelphia won the 1993 NL Championship Series in six games.

Atlanta will be looking to defend its World Series title when it begins this best-of-five series. The Phillies advanced to the NLDS by sweeping a best-of-three Wild Card Series against the Cardinals. It marked their first postseason series victory since 2010.

The Phillies haven’t played at home since Sept. 25, when the Braves won an 11-inning game to split a four-game set. Atlanta went 11-8 during the season series against Philadelphia.

Games 1 and 2 of the NLDS will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday at Truist Park. The Phillies will host the next two games on Friday and Saturday (if necessary). Game 5 would be played in Atlanta on Sunday.

• Postseason ticket information: Phillies | Braves

Here are answers to some of the questions you may have about this NLDS:

When is the game and how can I watch it?

Game 1 of the best-of-five NLDS is LIVE now on FOX from Truist Park in Atlanta. Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday at 4:35 p.m. ET on FOX.

All games are available in the US on MLB.TV (authentication to a participating Pay TV provider is required). Live games are also available in select countries outside the US. For full details click here.

What are the starting lineups?

Phillies: Manager Rob Thomson dropped Bryce Harper from the No. 3 to No. 4 spot in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series on Friday against Cardinals left-hander José Quintana because he said it created more separation between Kyle Schwarber and Harper. Thomson kept Harper there in Game 2 against right-hander Miles Mikolas, and that's where Harper remained for the NLDS opener. Matt Vierling got the start in center again over Brandon Marsh with Braves left-hander Max Fried on the mound.

1. Kyle Schwarber, LF
2. Rhys Hoskins, 1B
3. J.T. Realmuto, C
4. Bryce Harper, DH
5. Nick Castellanos, RF
6. Alec Bohm, 3B
7. Jean Segura, 2B
8. Matt Vierling, CF
9. Eduardo Sosa, SS

Braves: Eight Braves hit at least 15 homers for the first time in franchise history. Austin Riley and Matt Olson, who returned to the cleanup spot, ranked first and second in the NL in extra-base hits. Atlanta relies on the tremendous power potential that exists throughout its lineup.

1. Ronald Acuña Jr., RF
2. Dansby Swanson, SS
3. Austin Riley, 3B
4. Matt Olson, 1B
5. William Contreras, DH
6. Travis d'Arnaud, C
7. Orlando Arcia, 2B
8. Michael Harris II, CF
9. Robbie Grossman, LF

Who are the starting pitchers?

Phillies: Left-hander Ranger Suárez (10-7, 3.65 ERA) will get the nod in Game 1. It makes sense because Suárez established himself as the team’s No. 3 starter in the second half of the season, going 4-2 with a 2.95 ERA in his final 14 starts. He went 1-2 with a 3.21 ERA in five starts this season against the Braves, including one earned run in 12 innings in two starts against them last month.

Braves: Max Fried (14-7, 2.48 ERA) has positioned himself as one of the game’s elite starters over the past few years. Fried has posted the NL’s third-best ERA (2.68) since the start of the 2020 season. The lefty allowed two runs or fewer in three of five postseason starts last year. He pitched six scoreless innings in the decisive Game 6 of last year’s World Series. He limited the Phillies to three runs over 11 innings during his two September starts against them.

How will the bullpens line up after the starter?

Phillies: Expect Thomson to continue to lean on right-hander Zach Eflin and left-hander José Alvarado in the most high-leverage situations late in games, if the Phillies have a lead. Behind Eflin and Alvarado are right-handers David Robertson and Seranthony Domínguez. Domínguez came up with some big outs in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series. The Cardinals had runners on first and second with two outs in the eighth inning, but he struck out Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado swinging to end the inning.

Braves: Closer Kenley Jansen finished the season strong after encountering some early September trouble. His primary setup men are A.J. Minter and Raisel Iglesias. Collin McHugh has often been used to bridge a gap to the seventh inning. But if Schwarber or Harper are due up at any point before the seventh, expect to see left-hander Dylan Lee get the ball.

Any injuries of note?

Phillies: The Phillies are healthy entering the NLDS.

Braves: Ozzie Albies (fractured right pinkie) will likely not be available before the NL Championship Series. Albies’ only potential contributions now would come as a pinch-runner. The Braves are hoping Spencer Strider (strained left oblique) will be available to make at least one start or potentially serve as a reliever.

Who is hot and who is not?

Phillies: Nobody will say he is hot just yet, but it is noteworthy that Harper worked a huge walk in Game 1’s dramatic ninth-inning comeback, then crushed a homer to right in the second inning in Game 2. It could be a sign that Harper is heating up. It goes without saying the Phillies would love to see NL MVP Harper in the NLDS.

Braves: Olson was stone cold through September’s first few weeks, but he hit .375 with six homers and a 1.416 OPS over his final nine games. Acuña (.664), d’Arnaud (.661) and Harris (.657) all produced a sub-.700 OPS going back to Sept. 19. But each could have benefited from the break between Wednesday’s regular season finale and the start of the NLDS.

Anything else fans might want to know?

Phillies: Philadelphia will host Game 3 on Friday. It will be the first postseason game at Citizens Bank Park since Game 5 of the 2011 NLDS.

Braves: Atlanta went 7-1 at home during last year’s postseason. The Braves are bidding to reach the NLCS for a third straight season. ... Harris, Atlanta's star rookie center fielder, was 10 when the Phillies last participated in the postseason (2011).