Lineup & How to Watch the Atlanta Braves Go For a Series Sweep Against the Philadelphia Phillies

The Atlanta Braves are looking to start the 2024 season in dominating fashion against the rival Philadelphia Phillies

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlanta Braves have absolutely whacked the division rival Philadelphia Phillies to start the 2024 season, winning the first two games in Citizens Bank Park by a combined fourteen runs. 

The Braves are going to try and secure the series sweep this afternoon by taking game three and giving themselves an early division lead in the NL East after the first weekend of games.  

Lineups for Braves vs Phillies on Sunday, March 31st

Here's how the Braves will line up for the contest:

RF Ronald Acuña Jr
2B Ozzie Albies
3B Austin Riley
1B Matt Olson
DH Marcell Ozuna
LF Adam Duvall
CF Michael Harris II
SS Orlando Arcia
C Chadwick Tromp

As expected, Adam Duvall checks into the starting lineup for the first time, owing to the lefty on the mound for Philadelphia. Last season in Boston, Duvall didn't have a significant platoon split as a whole (.248 against righties, .244 against lefties), but he did bat .284 with six homers in twenty-six games against lefty starters. Chadwick Tromp, newly called up from AAA Gwinnett after the injured list placement of Sean Murphy (left oblique strain), get the start behind the plate and bats 9th.

Here's how Philly will counter at home:

DH Kyle Schwarber
SS Trea Turner
1B Alec Bohm
C J.T. Realmuto
RF Nick Castellanos
2B Whit Merrifield
3B Edmundo Sosa
LF Christian Pache
CF Johan Rojas

Bryce Harper (who took a tumble over the dugout railing), Bryson Stott, and Brandon Marsh both get the day off against a lefty starter, although it's entirely possible you see Harper and Stott in a pinch-hit capacity later in this one.

Pitching Matchup for Braves vs Phillies on Sunday, March 31st

Today's matchup is the first real unknown of the series, with Chris Sale having started only one game against Philly since 2017 and Suárez seemingly having Atlanta's number despite their excellence against left-handed starters.

Sale's one start last season against the Phillies came on May 5th in Citizens Bank Park, with the Red Sox winning 5-3 thanks to Sale's quality outing: six innings with three runs, walking only one and striking out ten. As to be expected, not a lot of Philly's hitters are familiar with Sale outside of free agent imports Nick Castellanos and Whit Merrifield, and they haven't been great, batting .190 and .233 respectively. 

Suarez has been good against Atlanta in his career (lifetime 2.70 ERA, including postseason) and has been absolute nails in his last five games against the Braves, sporting a 1.82 ERA. And it's perplexing - Atlanta absolutely crushed lefty starters last season (.290/.354/.516 with 60 homers in only 32 starts) but can't seem to figure out Suarez. His "stuff" isn't even that great, but something about what he does just perplexes the Braves hitters.

Austin Riley (.400 w/ 1 HR) and Adam Duvall (.333 w/ 2 HRs) seem to do the best against him, but the rest of the lineup regulars are all batting .250 or below. Outside of those two, only Ozzie Albies (.200 average) even has a homer against Suarez, while several Braves have practically anemic numbers, like .214 (Matt Olson), .231 (Ronald Acuña Jr and Marcell Ozuna) or even .091 (Michael Harris).

But Suarez also looked questionable in spring, with his average velocities about two mph lower than his 2023 season...and that's not a great sign for a pitcher that already averaged only 93 mph on his fastball in 2023. Was that just not getting "up" for Grapefruit League, or a sign that something's off for Suarez? We'll find out on Sunday.

(For what it's worth, Suarez gave up twelve runs in eleven innings across three starts to open 2023, so maybe he's like a diesel engine that just takes a while to get going every spring?)

How to Watch the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday, March 31st

Today's game three is scheduled for a 1:35 PM ET first pitch with a full suite of broadcast options. In market, the Phillies can be found on NBC 10 while the Braves broadcast is on Bally Sports South, with out of market fans being able to watch either feed on MLB.tv. For audio, the Phillies are airing the game on 94 WIP and WTTM 1680 while the Atlanta Braves Radio Network has the standard broadcast on 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan and affiliates across Braves Country.