{
  "id": 11347825,
  "title": "Joey Votto's Zack Wheeler proclamation goes hilariously wrong in Phillies-Braves Game 3",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/joey-vottos-zack-wheeler-proclamation-goes-hilariously-wrong-in",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-02T03:41:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/joey-vottos-zack-wheeler-proclamation-goes-hilariously-wrong-in-phillies-braves-game-3-034121911.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the third game of the Philadelphia Phillies' wild-card series against the Atlanta Braves, NBC broadcaster Joey Votto made an off-color prediction about the performance of Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler. Votto, who was filling in as an analyst during the game, declared, \"As good as Zack Wheeler looks — this game as in play as it gets — I do not see the Braves scoring any more runs the rest of the way.\" However, Votto's prognostication quickly went awry during the next five pitches. Wheeler walked Austin Riley and subsequently allowed a two-run homer to Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies, leading to a 6-2 Braves victory. The moment proved Votto's prediction incorrect, as the Braves scored runs immediately following Votto's statement. NBC broadcast crew members took the opportunity to make light of the situation, with color commentator C.J. Nitkowski telling Votto, \"Joey, I've had a lot of fun working with you over these three days, but don't check your mentions.\" The Phillies' loss set up an NLDS matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers, beginning on Saturday. Votto's broadcasting role with NBC Sports started this season, as part of the network's effort to bolster their broadcast team with recently retired players.",
  "summary": "It took five pitches for the Braves to make Votto eat his words.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Watch Michael Harris II homer ignite Atlanta by giving Braves early lead vs. Phillies",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/watch-michael-harris-ii-homer-ignite-atlanta-by-giving-braves-early",
        "published": "2026-10-02T01:03:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}