Phillies vs. Braves Wild Card Series: Inside Don Mattingly's Jhoan Duran decision
In Game 1 of the Wild Card series, Phillies manager Don Mattingly faced criticism for bringing in closer Jhoan Duran in the seventh inning. The move backfired when the Braves rallied to win 5-3 following a home run by Austin Riley.
Why it matters
The decision highlights the high-pressure strategic choices managers make in postseason baseball and the impact of bullpen management on game outcomes.
The Phillies lost to the Braves , 5-3, in Game 1 of the best-of-three Wild Card Series Tuesday afternoon in Atlanta. The Phillies took a 3-2 lead in the top of the seventh inning on a two-RBI triple from catcher J.T. Realmuto before manager Don Mattingly decided to hand the ball over to his closer, Jhoan Duran .
Duran was one of the best closers in baseball in the regular season, but seeing him enter the game in the seventh inning was still a surprising move. He hadn't worked in the seventh inning all season and only did twice (once in the regular season, once in the playoffs) last year. He's generally a ninth-inning-only closer but has gotten some four-out saves.
In this situation, the Braves had the top of the order coming up in the top of the seventh (it was 9-1-2 to start).
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