LIVE: Braves vs. Phillies NLDS Game 4 on TBS

PHILADELPHIA -- This postseason has already featured several upsets. Might another goliath go down?

The Braves, who won an MLB-best 104 games, hope to stave off elimination against the Phillies in Game 4 of the National League Division Series on Thursday night at Citizens Bank Park.

Despite a lopsided 10-2 loss in Game 3, Atlanta will turn to its top two pitchers with its season on the line: Right-hander Spencer Strider is set for Game 4 in Philadelphia, with lefty Max Fried hoping for a winner-take-all Game 5 (if necessary) on Saturday night in Atlanta.

“That's great,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “If we can't win one or both of those games with those guys, you know what, I feel pretty good with the next two starters that we’ve got.”

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In all best-of-five postseason series entering 2023, teams leading 2-1 after Game 3 have gone on to win the series 69 of 96 times (72%). In Division Series with the current 2-2-1 format, teams ahead 2-1 and playing Game 4 at home have advanced 23 of 29 times (79%), with 17 of those winners closing out the series in Game 4. Include the 2022 Phillies among those clubs.

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“Just keep playing our game,” said Bryce Harper, who produced his first multihomer postseason game on Wednesday night. “We know they're really good, and they're not going to fall down or die or anything like that. They're a really, really good organization, a really good team, and we've seen that all year from them. But we have a crowd that's 45 [thousand] strong, and we're very excited to go into tomorrow and play a great game.”

When is the game and how can I watch it?

Game 4 is live now from Citizens Bank Park, airing on TBS.

All series are available in the U.S. on MLB.TV with authentication to a participating Pay TV provider. Games are available live internationally (except in Canada). Full game archives are available approximately 90 minutes after the game ends.

Who are the starting pitchers?

Braves: RHP Spencer Strider

Strider gave the Braves exactly what they needed as he limited the Phillies to two runs (one earned) over seven innings in Atlanta’s Game 1 loss. Now he has a chance to extend the success he’s had against Philadelphia. Strider's only rough start against them in his career occurred when he allowed five earned runs in just 2 1/3 innings in Game 3 of the 2022 NLDS. He cruised through the first two innings and then fatigued as he progressed through the third inning of his first start in 26 days, as he was sidelined during the regular season’s final weeks with a left oblique strain.

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Strider has a 1.90 ERA over eight career regular-season appearances (seven starts) against the Phillies. He limited them to one run over seven innings when he last pitched at Citizens Bank Park on Sept. 13.

Phillies: LHP Ranger Suárez

Suárez allowed one hit and one walk in 3 2/3 scoreless innings against the Braves in Game 1, but he was lifted in the fourth inning as part of Philadelphia’s pregame plan to attack Atlanta with its high-octane bullpen. It worked, as the Braves were shut out at home for the first time since Aug. 28, 2021. The Phillies could follow the same script in Game 4, with Suárez going no more than twice through the lineup before making way for the bullpen.

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What are the starting lineups?

Braves: Unlike Game 1 vs. Suárez on Saturday, when the Braves opted to create some matchups by moving Austin Riley to the lineup’s second spot, Matt Olson to the third spot and Ozzie Albies in the fourth spot, Atlanta went with the same order for the first five hitters from the previous two games. In addition, Sean Murphy and Kevin Pillar earned their second starts of the series.

1. Ronald Acuña Jr., RF
2. Ozzie Albies, 2B
3. Austin Riley, 3B
4. Matt Olson, 1B
5. Marcell Ozuna, DH
6. Sean Murphy, C
7. Kevin Pillar, LF
8. Orlando Arcia, SS
9. Michael Harris II, CF

Phillies: Philadelphia went with a right-handed lineup in Game 4, with Brandon Marsh starting over Cristian Pache in left field and Bryce Harper hitting third, instead of cleanup.

1. Kyle Schwarber, DH
2. Trea Turner, SS
3. Bryce Harper, 1B
4. Alec Bohm, 3B
5. Bryson Stott, 2B
6. J.T. Realmuto, C
7. Nick Castellanos, RF
8. Brandon Marsh, LF
9. Johan Rojas, CF

How will the bullpens line up after the starter?

Braves: With AJ Smith-Shawver covering the final 2 2/3 innings on Wednesday, the Braves will enter Game 4 with everybody available. Left-hander Brad Hand is the team’s middle-inning weapon for Schwarber and Harper. Hand struck out Schwarber in Game 3, but surrendered the second of Harper’s two homers. A.J. Minter, Joe Jiménez and Pierce Johnson serve as closer Raisel Iglesias’ top setup men.

Phillies: Manager Rob Thomson should have everybody available in Game 4, after no game Tuesday and with no game Friday. Of Philadelphia's high-leverage relievers, only right-handers Seranthony Dominguez and Orion Kerkering and left-hander Matt Strahm were used in Game 3.

Any injuries of note?

Braves: Charlie Morton will miss the NLDS because of a strained right index finger.

Phillies: Rhys Hoskins is on the 60-day IL following left ACL surgery in March. The Phils have said Hoskins has a chance to play this postseason, but it would not happen until the World Series. Even then, he would be limited to DH or pinch-hitter duties. Hoskins is in Clearwater, Fla., where he’s continuing to rehab and face live pitching as part of Philadelphia's stay-ready group. … Right-hander Dylan Covey is on the injured list with a lower back injury. He was not expected to make the NLDS roster.

Who’s hot, who’s not?

Braves: Albies is 4-for-11 with no extra-base hits and Riley is 4-for-13 with a home run in this series. This accounts for hot right now for the Braves, who have totaled three extra-base hits through the first three games. Acu?a is 2-for-10 with a double and Michael Harris II is 0-for-11.

Phillies: Harper hit two home runs in Game 3 and has three homers in the NLDS. Turner homered in Game 3 and has a hit in each of his five postseason games. He has two hits in three games. Realmuto had a double with two RBIs.

Anything else fans should know?

Braves: Atlanta has lost Game 4 of the NLDS in three (2022, '19, '18) of the past five postseasons. A fourth game wasn’t necessary when the Braves swept the Marlins in 2020. Freddie Freeman’s homer off Josh Hader helped Atlanta seal the 2021 NLDS against the Brewers with a Game 4 win.