The Philadelphia Phillies do not need to become a complete team overnight to reach the NLDS. They need their biggest bats to punish mistakes and enough pitching to keep Thursday's deciding game within reach.

Wednesday supplied a convincing example.

The Phillies erased a late deficit and beat the Atlanta Braves 4-3 in 10 innings at Truist Park, tying their NL Wild Card Series 1-1. Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper delivered consecutive eighth-inning homers before Alec Bohm supplied the winning shot in the 10th.

That comeback makes the case for Philadelphia advancing, but the strongest argument extends beyond three swings.

The Braves' bullpen has already given the Phillies openings in both games. JT Realmuto's two-run triple put the Phillies ahead in the seventh inning Tuesday. Schwarber and Harper then erased Wednesday's 3-1 deficit against Dylan Lee, and Bohm punished Didier Fuentes.

The implication matters. Even if the Braves receive another strong start, the Phillies have demonstrated that reaching Atlanta's relievers can change the game. Philadelphia does not have to dominate nine innings to win this matchup.

Bohm's contribution also gives the offense a needed dimension. Pitchers cannot treat surviving Schwarber and Harper as the end of the assignment. A dangerous hitter behind them makes navigating the middle of this lineup harder.

Andrew Painter provided the other reason for optimism.

His three scoreless relief innings allowed the Phillies to survive extra innings without using Jhoan Duran. After Tuesday's loss, when Austin Riley homered off Duran, Philadelphia needed someone else to protect its season. Painter delivered nine outs and gave the closer a day without game action.

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That creates a potentially useful setup for Thursday. Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler offer pitching options, although both Game 3 starters are TBD as of Wednesday evening. Wheeler would be working on short rest after pitching Sunday.

The sensible approach is to pursue favorable matchups aggressively. If Nola, Wheeler, and Duran are available and effective, manager Don Mattingly can prioritize the next difficult stretch of hitters instead of asking one pitcher to carry the entire game.

There are reasons for caution. Tyler Mahle held Philadelphia to one run over seven innings Wednesday. Harper's seventh-inning misplay helped Atlanta take the lead, and Edmundo Sosa exited with an apparent leg injury. Another comeback cannot serve as the entire plan.

The Phillies must tighten their defense and generate pressure before the eighth inning. Three solo homers rescued Game 2. Expecting that exact formula again would invite trouble.

Still, Philadelphia has a credible route forward. Its power can erase deficits quickly, Atlanta's relief pitching has proved vulnerable, and Painter preserved options for the deciding game.

The Phillies have earned more than another day. They have shown how they can win it.