The Philadelphia Phillies will turn to Jesús Luzardo to open Game 1 of the 2026 National League Wild Card Series against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday, September 29.
Luzardo gets the assignment as Philadelphia begins its postseason run at Truist Park in Atlanta, but there is an important distinction: the left-hander is expected to serve more as an opener than a traditional starting pitcher.
Why Is Jesús Luzardo Opening Game 1 for the Phillies?
Luzardo recently returned from the injured list after dealing with left shoulder inflammation, which limited his workload late in the regular season.
The Phillies gave Luzardo a brief appearance against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday, when he threw a scoreless inning on only four pitches. Because he has not been fully stretched out following the injury, Philadelphia could take a cautious approach with his workload against Atlanta.
That means Game 1 could quickly turn into a bullpen game depending on how Luzardo looks during the opening innings.
Andrew Painter Could Follow Luzardo
One of Philadelphia’s most important pitching options behind Luzardo is Andrew Painter, who is expected to be available out of the bullpen.
The Phillies could use Luzardo to navigate the beginning of Atlanta’s lineup before turning the game over to Painter or another reliever.
That strategy gives Philadelphia flexibility while avoiding the need to push Luzardo deep into the game immediately after his return from the injured list.
Phillies vs. Braves Game 1 Starting Pitchers
The expected pitching matchup for Game 1 features:
Philadelphia Phillies: Jesús Luzardo — 14-5, 2.86 ERA
Atlanta Braves: Chris Sale — 14-9, 2.16 ERA
Sale gives Atlanta an experienced postseason left-hander on the opposite side, setting up an intriguing pitching matchup to begin the best-of-three Wild Card Series.
Phillies vs. Braves Game 1 Date, Time and TV Channel
Matchup: Philadelphia Phillies vs. Atlanta Braves
Round: 2026 NL Wild Card Series — Game 1
Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Time: 2:00 p.m. ET
Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, Georgia
TV: NBC
Streaming: Peacock
What Is the Phillies’ Wild Card Rotation?
Philadelphia’s pitching plans extend beyond Luzardo in Game 1.
Game 1: Jesús Luzardo
Game 2: Cristopher Sánchez
Game 3: Aaron Nola could be an option if necessary
The structure allows the Phillies to use Luzardo aggressively without necessarily asking him to provide the five or six innings normally expected from a postseason starter.
Is Jesús Luzardo Playing Today?
Yes. Jesús Luzardo is expected to open Game 1 for the Phillies against the Braves in the 2026 NL Wild Card Series.
However, fans should not necessarily expect a traditional start from Luzardo. His recent shoulder issue and limited workload mean Philadelphia could use multiple pitchers to get through Game 1.
With Chris Sale starting for Atlanta and Philadelphia potentially deploying Luzardo and Painter in tandem, pitching strategy could become one of the biggest storylines of the Phillies-Braves Wild Card opener.