What happened: Atlanta opens the Wild Card Series against Philadelphia at Truist Park with home-field advantage for the round. Ozzie Albies said the home crowd helps and called another meeting with Philadelphia added motivation. Walt Weiss added Rowdy Tellez, DaShawn Keirsey Jr. and Luke Williams as bench and baserunning options, with Chris Sale starting Game 1.

Why it matters: A short series puts early pitching and bench decisions under immediate pressure. Tellez gives Atlanta a left-handed pinch-hit option after a pinch-hit homer during the season, while Keirsey and Williams add stolen-base speed with no ghost runner in postseason extra innings. The opener also sets up Sale against a Philadelphia plan built around Jesus Luzardo in an opener role.

What to watch: Game 1 opens the best-of-three at Truist Park. Watch pinch-hit and pinch-run usage if the game stays tight late.