The Atlanta Braves slotted third baseman Austin Riley seventh in their batting order ahead of their National League Wild Card series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies on September 29, 2026, at Truist Park.
For the opening contest, Atlanta started left-hander Chris Sale on the mound. Meanwhile, Philadelphia countered with starter Jesus Luzardo, who returned to action after missing the final weeks of the regular season due to left shoulder inflammation.
According to UnderdogMLB, the complete Atlanta Braves starting lineup for the September 29 matchup was published in this order:
- Drake Baldwin (Catcher)
- Ronald Acuña Jr. (Right Field)
- Matt Olson (First Base)
- Mauricio Dubón (Left Field)
- Michael Harris II (Center Field)
- Ozzie Albies (Second Base)
- Austin Riley (Third Base)
- Mike Yastrzemski (Designated Hitter)
- Ha-Seong Kim (Shortstop)
Postseason Context and Roster Dynamics
The decision to place Riley down in the seventh spot added depth to a heavily scrutinized Braves lineup. Atlanta secured the NL East division title over Philadelphia the prior weekend, claiming the crown for the first time in three years. However, the team entered October baseball with questions surrounding their pitching depth, including the placement of veteran starter Martín Pérez on the 15-day injured list due to lower back inflammation.
Despite rotation concerns, the Braves’ lineup structure paid off immediately. After battling through the middle innings, Atlanta capitalized against the Philadelphia bullpen. The game swung in the eighth inning when Austin Riley launched a dramatic three-run home run off Phillies All-Star closer Jhoan Duran. This hit propelled the Braves to a 5-3 victory and an early advantage in the best-of-three series.
