Braves' Austin Riley Praises Dominant Pitching After Win Over Phillies

Atlanta's pitching staff has been a key to the team's strong start this season.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 5:43am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color in the Braves' navy blue and red, and the Phillies' red and white.The Braves' dominant pitching staff has been the key to their strong start, as they continue to overpower NL East rivals like the Phillies.Atlanta Today

The Atlanta Braves secured a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies, continuing their impressive start to the season. After the game, Braves third baseman Austin Riley praised the team's pitching staff, which has been unbelievable so far this year. Starter Chris Sale looked sharp despite some early-season struggles with his slider, and Robert Suarez closed the door in the ninth inning.

Why it matters

The Braves' pitching was a weakness last season, but it appears to be a major strength in 2026. If the pitching staff can maintain this level of dominance, it could carry the team deep into the season and potentially to the playoffs.

The details

Chris Sale delivered a strong outing for the Braves, despite some early-season issues with his slider. Robert Suarez came in to close the game in the ninth inning, with Braves manager opting to use Suarez instead of regular closer Raisel Iglesias due to Phillies star Bryce Harper's success against Iglesias.

  • The Braves secured the 3-1 win over the Phillies on April 19, 2026.

The players

Austin Riley

The Braves' third baseman, who praised the team's dominant pitching after the win.

Chris Sale

The Braves' starting pitcher, who delivered a strong outing despite some early-season struggles with his slider.

Robert Suarez

The Braves' relief pitcher, who came in to close the game in the ninth inning.

Raisel Iglesias

The Braves' regular closer, who was not used in the ninth inning due to Phillies star Bryce Harper's success against him.

Bryce Harper

The Phillies' star player, who has had significant success against Braves closer Raisel Iglesias.

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What they’re saying

“We're playing complete baseball. It's a different guy every night coming up in big situations... And our pitching staff has been unbelievable.”

— Austin Riley, Braves Third Baseman

What’s next

The Braves will look to continue their strong start to the season as they face off against other NL East rivals in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

The Braves' dominant pitching has been a key factor in their impressive start to the 2026 season. If the pitching staff can maintain this level of performance, it could propel the team to success in the highly competitive NL East.