The Philadelphia Phillies host the Atlanta Braves on Monday, September 7 at Citizens Bank Park, with first pitch set for 1:05 PM ET. Jesús Luzardo gets the ball for Philadelphia opposite Atlanta's Grant Holmes in what figures to be a meaningful late-season NL East matchup. The game airs locally on NBC 10 and on radio via 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan and 94 WIP. With September underway and every game carrying added weight in the standings, this is a matchup the Phillies need to take seriously at home.

Pitching Matchup: Jesús Luzardo vs. Grant Holmes

Luzardo draws the Labor Day start for Philadelphia. The left-hander has been one of the more intriguing arms in the Phillies rotation since coming over, capable of missing bats with his fastball and a sharp breaking ball. The Phillies will need him to work deep into this game and keep Atlanta's lineup off balance from the jump.

Holmes gets the nod for the Braves. He is not a pitcher the Phillies face regularly, which introduces a degree of uncertainty for Philadelphia's offense. Unfamiliarity can cut both ways, and the Phillies' lineup has enough depth to make adjustments if Holmes struggles to establish his command early.

Phillies Lineup: A Loaded Card at Home

Manager Rob Thomson has put together a lineup that gives the Phillies every opportunity to do damage against Holmes. Kyle Schwarber leads off at DH, followed by Trea Turner at short. Bryce Harper slots into the three hole in right field, with Luis Arraez hitting cleanup at second base — an interesting construction that puts one of the game's best contact hitters in a traditional power spot. Alec Bohm bats fifth at first base, Bryson Stott sixth at third, Brandon Marsh seventh in left, J.T. Realmuto eighth behind the plate, and Justin Crawford ninth in center field.

Keys to Watch

• Luzardo's command: If he can get ahead in counts and work efficiently, the Phillies have a real shot at keeping Atlanta's lineup quiet through six or seven innings.
• Early pressure on Holmes: Schwarber, Turner, and Harper at the top of the order give Philadelphia a legitimate chance to seize control before Atlanta's bullpen gets involved. Getting to Holmes before he settles in is the priority.
• Luis Arraez at cleanup: Arraez batting fourth is an unconventional choice, but it keeps the lineup moving and puts a contact-first hitter in position to drive in runs with two outs. Watch how Atlanta pitches around him versus challenging him.
• Realmuto's game management: As the battery mate, J.T. Realmuto's read on Luzardo's stuff early will shape how long the starter can go and how aggressively the Phillies can deploy their bullpen later.
• Justin Crawford at the bottom: The young center fielder batting ninth gives Philadelphia a second table-setter capable of getting on base and turning the lineup over to Schwarber.

Prediction

Citizens Bank Park on a holiday afternoon with Luzardo on the mound and that lineup behind him — this is a favorable setup for Philadelphia. The Phillies have the more recognizable starter and a deeper lineup top to bottom. Holmes is an unknown quantity, which keeps this from being a lock, but the edge belongs to the home side. Expect Luzardo to pitch into the sixth, the offense to do enough damage in the early innings, and the Phillies to take this one. Phillies 5, Braves 3.