“(Chris Sale) is built for this kind of stage, he’s all business.” – Eric Hosmer on Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale
“He’s the best left-handed pitcher I’ve faced in my whole career. I’ve helped him get to 3,000 or 4,000 punchouts.” – Phillies 1B Bryce Harper on facing Chris Sale in Game 1
“During my rookie year, I went 17-5 and went into my first playoff game and I couldn’t throw a strike.” – CC Sabathia on the pressure in the MLB Postseason
“The Phillies are the Braves’ nightmare come October.” – Anthony Rizzo on the Phillies, who are 3-0 all-time in Postseason Series against the Braves
STAMFORD, Conn. – Sept. 29, 2026 – NBC Sports kicked off its exclusive coverage of the MLB Wild Card Series presented by AbbVie today with a studio show leading into coverage of Phillies-Braves on NBC and Peacock.
This afternoon’s MLB Wild Card Series pregame show from NBC Sports’ Studio 1 in Stamford, Conn., featured host Ahmed Fareed with Hall of Famer CC Sabathia and former All-Star first baseman Eric Hosmer. Bob Costas and 2016 World Series champion Anthony Rizzo previewed Phillies-Braves and Red Sox-Yankees onsite from Yankee Stadium during the show.
The pregame show included Ashley ShahAhmadi’s interviews with Braves centerfielder Michael Harris II and All-Star Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper.
Matt Vasgersian (play-by-play), C.J. Nitkowski (analyst - Braves), John Kruk (analyst - Phillies), Joey Votto (Inside the Pitch) and Ashley ShahAhmadi (reporter) are calling this afternoon’s Phillies-Braves game.
NBC SPORTS’ MLB WILD CARD SERIES PRESENTED BY ABBVIE SCHEDULE
**All Times ET**
Date | Time | Game | Platforms | Play-by-play | Analyst(s) | Reporter |
| Tues., Sept. 29 | 2 p.m. | Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves | NBC/Peacock | Matt Vasgersian | John Kruk, C.J. Nitkowski, Joey Votto** | Ashley ShahAhmadi |
5 p.m. | Chicago White Sox at Houston Astros | Peacock/NBCSN | Tom McCarthy | Steve Stone, Geoff Blum, Adam Ottavino** | Britney Eurton | |
8 p.m. | Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees | NBC/Peacock | Jason Benetti | Lou Merloni, Joe Girardi, Anthony Rizzo** | Caroline Pineda | |
10 p.m. | Chicago Cubs at San Diego Padres | Peacock/NBCSN | Dave Flemming | Jim Deshaies, Mark Grant, Clayton Kershaw** | John Fanta |
***
Following are highlights from this afternoon’s MLB Wild Card Series Pregame Show on Peacock and NBCSN:
ON MLB WILD CARD SERIES
Hosmer on playing in the MLB Wild Card series: “It’s a brand-new season. You go 162 games and every single player going up to the plate or going to the mound is looking at the scoreboard and obviously trying to do everything they can to win. But in the postseason, no one is looking at the scoreboard. These games are different and you need to play situational baseball.”
Sabathia on when he realized playing in the postseason is different: “During my rookie year I went 17-5 and went into my first playoff game and I couldn’t throw a strike.”
ON ATLANTA BRAVES
Sabathia on Braves SP Chris Sale: “He is the guy you want taking the mound in Game 1 for Atlanta. It’s so important for him to go out there and set the tone because the (pitchers) behind him are not going to be set up to take the series. That’s why this game is so important. A lot of (the Phillies) have faced him before and he’s got the stuff to go out there and dominate.”
Hosmer: “(Chris Sale) is built for this kind of stage, he’s all business.”
Hosmer on the pressure put on the Braves this postseason: “There is pressure from pitch one. The Braves have pretty much been coasting all season, winning the National League East. If the Phillies get on the board early and win this game, the Braves are staring down (Zack) Wheeler and (Christopher) Sanchez, so good luck.”
Braves CF Michael Harris II to ShahAhmadi on what he’s taken from his past four postseasons: “I take those experiences and use them as lessons as we go into this one. I just want to have fun through it, be a good teammate, and go out there and execute.”
Harris to ShahAhmadi on the Braves’ gameplan going against Phillies starter Jesus Luzardo: “He’s a phenomenal pitcher. The last time he faced us, he (pitched) a complete game, so we have to make him work and put some good swings on him.”
ON PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Hosmer on Phillies’ 1B Bryce Harper’s matchup against Chris Sale: “Bryce knows this is one of the hardest lefty-lefty assignments you can have, but he comes into this Wild Card Series swinging the bat well. Last Sunday, the last game of the season, he went deep.”
Bryce Harper to ShahAhmadi on facing Chris Sale in Game 1: “He’s the best left-handed pitcher I’ve faced in my whole career. I’ve helped him get to 3,000 or 4,000 punchouts. Obviously, we want to take one today and I will do the best I can against him.”
Hosmer on the biggest questions coming into the game for Jesus Luzardo: “I’m looking for best-case scenario for Luzardo, but how many pitches is that? What is that pitch count going to look like because it seems like the bulk guy today is going to be Andrew Painter.”
Rizzo on the Phillies, who are 3-0 all-time in Postseason Series against the Braves: “The Phillies are the Braves’ nightmare come October.”
ON NEW YORK YANKEES
Sabathia on having his number retired by the Yankees: “The coolest moment of my baseball career. I think everybody knows by now that I didn’t want to pitch in New York. I tried everything I could to pitch on the West Coast, but to be able to end my career going into Monument Park, it was super emotional.”
Sabathia on Yankees SP Gerrit Cole being their starter for Game 3: “I think it works out great for the Yankees. You have Cam (Schlittler) pitch Game 1, and then have Max Fried go out there and pitch Game 2, that’s what you paid him for. When you looked at the Yankees a couple of years ago, they had to win every start that Gerrit Cole pitched, and it isn’t set up like that anymore for him. It gives them a little relief. He can line up to pitch Game 3, and if they don’t need him, he’ll pitch Game 1 of the ALDS.”
Rizzo on Giancarlo Stanton being added to the Yankees’ Wild Card roster: “With (Giancarlo Stanton) coming back, the Red Sox are going to have to gameplan around him. It’s not easy coming off the bench. ‘Big G’ is a veteran and in October he is a different monster. He can change the game with one swing.”
ON CHICAGO CUBS
Hosmer on Cubs CF Pete Crow-Armstrong’s 40 home runs-40 stolen bases season: “I didn’t expect it at all. Not many lefties at Wrigley (Field) have hit 40 home runs in a year. He’s on a short list there. It started out rough for him and now you look at these charts and he’s chasing everything.”
Hosmer on the Cubs needing to get ahead early against the Padres: “For Chicago, you don’t want to be in a close game late against Adrian Morejon, Mason Miller, or anyone in the back of (San Diego’s) bullpen. San Diego has a big advantage with their bullpen against Chicago’s.”
ON SAN DIEGO PADRES
Hosmer on Padres OF Fernando Tatis Jr. hitting 25 home runs this season: “Remember when Fernando Tatis Jr. only had two home runs? Well, you look up at the end of the year, and you see these numbers are right where you expect them to be.”
--NBC SPORTS--
