ATLANTA -- Since debuting in 2017, Tyler Mahle has waited nearly a decade to pitch in the postseason.

He'll finally get to do so Wednesday, and it'll come with a chance to send the Atlanta Braves to the National League Division Series after their dramatic 5-3 Game 1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies to kick off the wild-card series Tuesday afternoon.

Mahle (7-10, 3.99 ERA) has made 168 starts for the Reds, Rangers, Twins, Giants and Braves. It appeared his postseason drought would continue this season until he was traded to Atlanta at the deadline.

Perhaps seeing the opportunity in front of him, Mahle has taken full advantage of that change, going 4-1 with a 1.99 ERA in nine starts with Atlanta.

That includes two starts against the Phillies earlier this month, in which he went 1-0 with a sparkling 0.69 ERA. In seven career starts against Philadelphia, he is 2-2 with a 2.70 ERA.

"Simply put, (my time here has) just been amazing," Mahle said. "I'm on a really good team that has a chance to do some special things. I've been pitching well, so it's just been a fun last couple months."

The Braves' Game 1 win didn't come on the shoulders of the hitters who were most important on their path to winning the NL East. In fact, the top three of the order went a combined 0-for-11. All five RBIs came from the sixth through eighth spots in the lineup.

The moment that people will remember, though, was Austin Riley's go-ahead three-run homer in the eighth, which proved to be the difference.

He ambushed a 100-mph first-pitch fastball from Jhoan Duran and lifted it just over the fence, exorcising some demons from a season that didn't live up to his expectations.

With his .219 regular-season batting average erased, Riley took advantage of the clean slate provided by the postseason -- where he now has six homers and 19 RBIs in 37 career games.

"Everyone starts at zero (in the postseason)," Braves manager Walt Weiss said. "It couldn't happen to a better guy. Best teammate you can find, everything. Really happy for him."

That the Phillies' bullpen cost them Game 1 isn't surprising, given it ranked 21st in the majors this season with a 4.43 ERA. However, it was somewhat surprising that Duran -- who converted 33 of 35 save opportunities during the regular season, posting a 1.82 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 59 1/3 innings -- was the culprit.

It continues a tough stretch for Philadelphia's relievers in the postseason. The bullpen posted a combined 6.82 ERA across the team's last two playoff appearances, both NLDS exits, before allowing four runs over three innings in the opener against the Braves.

The odds are stacked against the Phillies historically as Game 1 losers of a wild-card series. Since the extended playoffs were fully introduced, the 2025 Yankees are the only team in 16 series to rally from losing the first game to take the best-of-three series.

However, Philadelphia can feel confident as it sends ace Cristopher Sanchez (18-7, 2.91) to the mound with its season on the line in Game 2.

"It doesn't matter if it's Game 1 or 2, just keep focused on what we have to do and follow the game plan," Sanchez said of his approach to not starting the opener. "It's not that difficult at all. It's just a matter of being able to wait it out."

The southpaw workhorse delivered his fourth straight season with a 3.44 ERA or better, setting career highs in starts (33), innings (207, second in the majors only to Miami's Sandy Alcantara) and strikeouts (231, fifth).

Sanchez had a franchise-record 50 2/3-inning scoreless streak that ended June 3 but has been a bit more human since, with a 6.65 ERA in July and a 5.12 ERA in September.

Sanchez has pitched well against the Braves but never won against them, entering with an 0-5 record and a 3.26 ERA in nine games (eight starts). He allowed just three earned runs in two starts against Atlanta this season but took the loss in both games.

He is also looking for his first postseason win, as he is 0-0 with a 2.79 ERA over four starts across the last three seasons.

"Always feel good with Cristopher out there," Phillies manager Don Mattingly said. "The playoffs are momentum-based, it seems like, and really momentum starts with your starting pitcher. He goes out and gives you a good start to the game, it's just a game at that point."

--Curt Weiler, Field Level Media