NL Wild Card Series: What to know about Atlanta Braves hosting Cincinnati Reds Wednesday

ATLANTA — It’s official: The Atlanta Braves will play the Cincinnati Reds to open the 2020 Major League Baseball postseason.

The Braves earned the No. 2 seed in the National League and will host the No. 7 seed Reds in the NL Wild Card Series.

The opening round is a best-of-three series. Game 1 and Game 2 will be Wednesday and Thursday at noon on ESPN. Game 3, if necessary, will be at 3 p.m. on Friday.

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The Braves' strong hitting versus the Reds stingy pitching staff will be something to watch this week.

The Braves are the No. 1 hitting team in the majors this season led by MVP candidate Freddie Freeman, phenom Ronald Acuna, surprise Adam Duvall and NL home run leader Marcell Ozuna.

For the starting rotation, Cincinnati will turn to Cy Young candidate Trevor Bauer, Luis Castillo and Sonny Gray. The Reds' pitching staff ranks No. 7 in the majors with a 3.84 combined ERA.

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Braves will look to Max Fried for Game 1 against Bauer. Ian Anderson, Bryse Wilson and Kyle Wright are options available for Game 2 and Game 3.

The Braves and Reds haven’t played each other in the playoffs since 1995 when Atlanta swept the Cincinnati in the NLCS on its way to winning the World Series. Coincidentally, the 1995 season was also a shortened one like 2020 but because of the MLB strike.

Both teams are hoping this will be the year to break their playoff droughts. The Reds haven’t won a series since 1995 while The Braves have lost their last 10 series since 2001.

Omni Hotel offers only view for Braves fans to catch game this season Atlanta Braves fans won?t be allowed inside Truist Park, but that doesn?t mean the games will be completely closed off this season.

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