NL WILDCARD GAME: PHILLIES VS BRAVES

September 30, 2026

Walt Weiss

Truist Park

Atlanta Braves

Pregame Press Conference

Q. Walt, what did that home run not only do for Austin Riley but just for the rest of the team, to have just that one postseason moment there at the beginning? How does that possibly fuel the team for the next few weeks?

WALT WEISS: Yeah, I think it's certainly a shot of confidence for Austin. We talked a lot yesterday about fresh starts in the postseason and everybody going back to zero. It's a mental reboot.

So yeah, that can launch into a nice little run. The guys in the room obviously love him. He's been here a long time, part of this core. He's going to be here a long time. So it was not only a feel-good moment for Austin but for everybody.

Q. Tell us about the lineup today a little bit. Breaking up the lefties it looks like?

WALT WEISS: Yeah, yeah. I leaned a little bit on the personal history today, which you don't typically do unless there's a big enough sample.

I've hit Ozzie third against lefties a lot this year, over 180 ABs, I think, in that spot against lefties. So nothing major there.

But with Michael, Michael has had tough history. I think the two times we faced Sanchez this year, I gave Michael the day off. We had Lane Thomas at the time too, so a little different. And Michael is swinging the bat good, and I feel good about him being in there. But just move him down a few spots.

Q. This is a team that's certainly battle tested, seen the Phillies quite a bit this year. In the context of Mahle going on the mound, this will be the third time this calendar month that he has specifically seen them. What kind of value is that recent amount seeing him compared to if you'd seen him a bit but it was May or June?

WALT WEISS: I think generally speaking, the advantage probably tilts toward the hitters in that scenario. But if you execute pitches, I don't think it matters. We've seen the Phillies so much lately in September. We've played them all month. Like I said before the series, there's no surprises for anybody.

But yeah, I think generally speaking, the scales tilt toward the hitters when you see a pitcher a bunch. But like I said, you make pitches, I don't think it matters a whole lot.

Q. We got to see the postseason debut of ABS yesterday. I'm wondering what you've seen this year as to how that has evolved, and specifically in terms of maybe an increased emphasis on saving one for key moments like a 3-2 count or a late game situation?

WALT WEISS: It's certainly been a learning curve for everybody with ABS this year. I like it, I think. Some strategy to it. It allows you to right a wrong. I like that aspect of it.

I think you can overthink it if you let yourself. You start talking about saving it for certain situations, it probably doesn't end well. My message was the lower the leverage, the more certainty you have to have and vice versa. If it's going to lead to an outcome and it's a 50/50, that's when you take your shot. But at the end of the day, I said, trust your eyes. I tried to make it as simple as possible.

Q. When you're in a three-game series like this, three straight days, do you just go into it saying all my bullpen guys are available every day. I know there could be a multi-inning guy here or there. But it's pretty much just all hands on deck for three straight days?

WALT WEISS: Yeah, pretty much, unless a game starts to get a little lopsided. Like I said, we went with a shorter pitching staff. That's the reason why. Because pretty much you're going to your guys. The guys that we have, a lot of them can go multiple innings. I feel like we're covered there.

But yeah, in a three-game series, it's very different from the regular season where you have to save guys. You can't use your leverage guys when you're down because you might not have them tomorrow when you're ahead, and you have to balance that for six months. Very different here.

Q. Would Grant start tomorrow?

WALT WEISS: Yeah, there's a couple scenarios. That's one of the options. I think he would certainly be pitching tomorrow at some point.

Q. Did you like the way that opener felt with Grant there the other day?

WALT WEISS: Yeah. Like I said, when you use an opener, it's always matchup oriented. You don't do it just to do it. It has to be the right matchups, the right personnel.

But yeah, we used Ray Kerr the other day and Ray is throwing the ball really well for us. So it's a nice weapon to have with Ray.

Q. Whether Holmes has been a starter or behind an opener, can you speak to how he's performed since the beginning of August and down the stretch?

WALT WEISS: Yeah, Grant has been good. I said all year, he's been a good starter for us for a while now. He's got a great story, where he came from, the perseverance and all that stuff, and been a staple in a major league rotation for a good team for a while now.

Certainly trust him, and he's been -- I think he's pitched his best later in the season, so I think he's in a good place.