Phillies vs. Braves Game 3: Starters, Lineups and Status Checks

Philadelphia's 4 to 3 win in 10 innings on September 30 tied the National League Wild Card Series with Atlanta at one game apiece. Alec Bohm hit a two out, go ahead homer in the 10th, sending the clubs to an October 1 Game 3 with elimination on the line. [1] [4] Current Game 3 schedule MLB's updated Game 3 FAQ and 2026 postseason schedule list first pitch for 8 p.m. ET on October 1. The FAQ also lists NBC and Peacock as the broadcast outlets. [1] [2] MLB's Gameday preview still shows 2 p.m. EDT, which conflicts with the newer FAQ and schedule. The updated schedule is the better current reference for the 8 p.m. ET listing, though a final check close to first pitch remains sensible. The time discrepancy matters because the rest of the Game 3 record remains unsettled. The series has reached its deciding game, yet the official update does not name a final starting pitcher for either club. That means the score from Game 2 offers context, not a completed Game 3 setup. The schedule should be checked alongside the starter announcement rather than used as a substitute for it. MLB's newer schedule page and Game 3 FAQ agree on the 8 p.m. ET listing, while the older Gameday display has not caught up. [1] [2] A reader looking for current game information can use the newer official pages first, then revisit the official record close to game time for any final scheduling update. Game 2 established the stakes without resolving the decisions that shape Game 3. Philadelphia's extra inning win made the series even, but it did not identify a Philadelphia starter, an Atlanta starter or a final bullpen plan. That distinction keeps the focus on confirmed information instead of treating a familiar name in a preview as a settled assignment. What is still unconfirmed Both Game 3 starters are listed as TBD in MLB's updated FAQ. Philadelphia possibilities noted by MLB include Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, Jesus Luzardo and Andrew Painter. Atlanta options mentioned include Grant Holmes, Kerr and Suter. Those names are possibilities, not confirmations, and none should be treated as the announced starter. [1] Projected batting orders are also not final lineups. A projected order can help identify players under consideration, but it does not establish who will be active or who will start. Official lineups and the final pitcher announcements remain the appropriate checkpoints before interpreting the matchup. Two availability issues add more uncertainty. Edmundo Sosa's right leg status remains unclear, according to MLB's Game 3 update. Jhoan Duran was unavailable in Game 2, and Don Mattingly said he hoped to have Duran available for Game 3. That hope is not confirmation that Duran will be active. MLB's separate pitching update likewise describes the Duran question as unresolved while outlining broad bullpen choices. [1] [3] These items should stay separate. A starter decision, a finalized batting order, Sosa's status and Duran's availability each answer a different part of the Game 3 picture. One update does not settle the others. Treating a possible pitcher or projected lineup as official would turn an incomplete record into a claim MLB has not made. Philadelphia's Game 2 comeback is verified, as is the series tie. CBS Sports also reported the 4 to 3 final in 10 innings and Bohm's decisive homer. [4] Still, that completed result does not establish Game 3 personnel. The most useful pregame update will be the official starter and lineup information, not an inference from the previous night's finish. SBA Takeaway Keep Game 3 in the status check category instead of treating it as a prediction exercise. Start with MLB's updated 8 p.m. ET schedule listing, then verify the official starters and batting orders when they are posted. Check for direct club or MLB confirmation on Sosa and Duran separately, since both situations remain open in the available record. Anyone considering a wager should also review a named provider's live terms independently after those baseball details are confirmed. The opened reporting does not establish odds, a price change or a market signal, so none belongs in the Game 3 assessment. The practical value here is knowing which official answers have not arrived yet. Sources - [1] MLB Game 3 FAQ - [2] MLB 2026 playoff and World Series schedule - [3] MLB pitching plans for Game 3 - [4] CBS Sports Game 2 winners and losers report Related Reading - MLB's Playoff Rule Reset: No Automatic Runner, but Two ABS Challenges - Padres Lead Cubs 1 to 0: Game 2 Price Check - White Sox and Guardians: Price the Series Before One Game