Harper has a .916 OPS at Truist Park across his career with both the Nationals and Phillies, posting a .255 average with 18 homers and 46 RBIs in 62 games. This season alone, he went 8-for-25 with two homers and six RBIs there. Yet the regular season tells a harder story: the Phillies lost 9 of 13 matchups with the Braves.
For the Phillies, who narrowly reached the postseason as the No. 6 seed, the wild-card series against Atlanta looms as an uphill battle. The Braves finished with a better record and did not need a bye. Still, Harper emphasized that playoff baseball is different from what happened in September and October. "Once postseason starts, it's a whole different game," Harper said Monday. "We're a very good baseball team. We're ready to go."
Harper's lifetime numbers against Atlanta underline his comfort in the matchup: a .262 average with 48 homers and 115 RBIs. He praised the atmosphere at Truist Park, saying he enjoys the field and setup. "I love coming into Atlanta and playing," he said. "The crowd's in it. They love their team. And it's just a lot of fun." The Phillies have postseason experience on their side even as the road team in Game 1 on Tuesday.