The Atlanta Braves play against the Philadelphia Phillies in an MLB game tonight. The matchup will be broadcasted on TBS at 6:20 p.m. CT. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trial offered by DirecTV Stream. Alternatively, Sling offers a first month discount to new users.

The Braves enter this matchup with a 66-58 record, and they are coming off back-to-back wins against the Los Angeles Angels. During their last two games, Atlanta outscored the Angels 14-4.

Atlanta’s designated hitter Marcell Ozuna has played well recently, hitting 8-10 over the past three games. His recent hot streak includes three RBI and a home run, so he will try to continue his offensive dominance this evening.

The Braves will have to play without their third baseman Austin Riley in this matchup because he fractured his hand recently. The third baseman will miss a couple of weeks due to the injury, so Atlanta signed Gio Urshela to fill the hole.

Riley’s injury will heavily impact Atlanta on both sides of the ball, but they are still in position to reach the postseason this year.

Philadelphia has been dominant over the past few months, as they currently hold a seven game divisional lead. The Phillies enter this matchup with a 73-51 record, and they have won four of their last five games.

Philadelphia has been led by Alec Bohm and Kyle Schwarber this season. Bohm currently leads the team with 85 RBI and a .285 batting average, while Schwarber leads the team with 28 home runs and a .378 on-base percentage.

Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trial offered by DirecTV Stream. Alternatively, Sling offers a first month discount to new users.

When the Atlanta Falcons traded for star outside linebacker Matt Judon from the New England Patriots on Aug. 14, Falcons coach Raheem Morris’s phone buzzed.

There were several congratulatory texts sent his way — and for the Irvington, N.J., native, many were from fans of the New York Jets, who no longer have to play against Judon twice a year as AFC East rivals.

But when the Falcons signed star free agent safety Justin Simmons to a one-year contract the next day, Morris’s phone again lit up. This time, it was from a more diverse audience — a variety of sects across the NFL landscape.

“Two players that you get glowing recommendations from people that they played with,” Morris said Monday in Flowery Branch. “When the signing goes down, and everybody calls me excited about the people that they’ve worked with and people that worked with them before, whether it be in Denver, Baltimore, New England.”

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Judon made the Pro Bowl each year from 2019-22 and was on his way to another in 2023 before suffering a torn lower right bicep. Simmons, meanwhile, has earned second-team All-Pro honors in four of the past five years, starring on the back end of the Denver Broncos’ defense.

Respect for Judon and Simmons is widespread across the sport’s highest level. Morris, who has no prior experience with either player, found that out rather quickly.

And from their on-field skill level to off-field leadership, Morris has a brighter outlook on the Falcons’ 2024 season than he did a week ago.

“It’s hard to say I’m not more confident,” Morris said. “The two players, I don’t know how many Pro Bowls they’ve got amongst each other, but you’re talking about grown men adding to your organization that got real, true value.”

Morris realized why Simmons and Judon have grown as accomplished as they are during his first formal interaction with each.

Simmons visited the Falcons on Aug. 12 and 13, and he ate dinner with a group of Falcons that includes Morris, general manager Terry Fontenot, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, safety Jessie Bates III and cornerback A.J. Terrell.

They ate at Chops Lobster Bar in Atlanta — and for as much as the Falcons wanted to pitch themselves to Simmons, the 30-year-old safety already knew much of what he needed.

“He’s talking about our team and our guys and [safety] Richie [Grant] and what it means to him,” Morris said. “Like, who does that? That fires you up.”

Simmons was searching for answers on differences between the Falcons’ previous coaching staff, led by head boss Arthur Smith, and the group Morris has assembled, among several other questions. Evidently, he liked the responses.

Judon’s experience was less formal in setting, as he held a FaceTime call with Morris that was permitted by the Patriots and the NFL.

Morris’s energy stood out to Judon, while Judon’s intentionality and assertiveness had the same effect on Morris, who quickly recognized he wanted the 32-year-old on his team.

“He’s telling you exactly what he’s going to bring you from his standpoint,” Morris said. “That dog mentality — and he didn’t use dog, he used a different word — but I loved it. I’m like, ‘Yes, bring him.’”

Film and stats only tell part of the story. Morris noted he wants to add positive people — players who fit Atlanta’s ethos and conduct business in a way that best represents the organization.

Judon and Simmons checked those boxes. Their past employers confirmed it.

As for the on-field component, Morris strives to be player-driven, emphasizing doing what the players do well. He feels Simmons and Judon bring unique skill sets with clear strengths to their game.

“Justin with his ball skills, his unique ability to get the ball back. I can’t remember the exact number of interceptions he’s had, but it’s a lot over the last couple years,” Morris said about Simmons, who has 30 interceptions in eight seasons. “Then Judon, with his ability to affect the passer, and he’s really unique, because you’ve seen him in two different systems, do it two different ways.”

Judon, who played the first five years of his career with the Baltimore Ravens, entered the NFL by being used in a variety of roles. He was an edge-setter who could blitz from different spots and was moved the formation.

In New England, Judon more consistently aligned off the edge and was directly involved in the Patriots’ pass rushing groups up front, especially on third down and long situations. On third and short, Judon proved his intellect and high mental capacity, Morris said.

Unique is one word for each player. Proven, productive and potential game-changers are several others.

Morris noted the additions of Simmons and Judon created a buzz from the fanbase, which Judon said he could feel over social media. Morris said such excitement is exactly what players and coaches want, forming a mentality that has left Atlanta’s first-year coach jubilant.

But nothing excites Morris more than seeing it on the field — and with Simmons and Judon making their debuts in Monday’s practice, Morris is eager to see them play and acclimate to Atlanta’s system with Week 1 less than three weeks away.

“Two really exciting players in their own right, and I just can’t wait to get them on the grass now,” Morris said. “They’re here, they’re on the grass, we’ll get some nice evaluations this week on what they can do and what they could be, and then it’s up to us to go make it happen.”

ATLANTA – Atlanta city leaders say MARTA owes taxpayers millions of dollars after an audit found that the transit agency may have been overcharging for services under the city’s “More MARTA” program.  

Eight years after residents voted yes to an expanded bus and train services, the independent audit revealed upwards of $70 million in discrepancies over money spent and the actual cost of services. 

“The suspicions have been there…it’s disappointing that the suspicions have been validated,” Atlanta City Councilman Michael Bond told FOX 5.  

Atlanta City Council President Doug Shipman says he and other council members sounded the alarm on program spending about a year and a half ago. 

“The auditors found that certain years, the auditors couldn’t find how MARTA made the calculations for the service deliveries,” he explained.  

The findings released to the public on Monday by an independent firm said MARTA overcharged for services between 2020 and 2022.  

The transit agency admitted to errors in those years totaling a little over $20 million.  

“The calculations that they made were overestimates,” Shipman said.  

MARTA officials sent a letter in response to recommendations auditors made for better record keeping and communication —agreeing with most—but denying the findings from 2017-2019 that showed a $40 million gap in services. 

In a statement to FOX 5, a MARTA spokesperson said:  

“Mauldin & Jenkins’ calculations are wrong. They used a flawed methodology by applying a COVID-based formula to reverse engineer what they believe should have been charged for bus service in 2017, 2018 and 2019, resulting in false calculations. MARTA charged for the cost of actual bus service during those years and the City officials then in charge were aware of the costs, as the minutes of monthly meetings prove. 

“MARTA informed the City and Mauldin & Jenkins of their flawed methodology and is disappointed that our responses to the audit which were provided to both parties were not included or referenced.” 

Bond says his concern is the public’s perception of trust. 

“We went out and took a message to voters that if they supported the referendum, the money would be spent 100% on what they absolutely wanted,” Bond stated.  

That statement from MARTA went on to say: “Despite these errors, MARTA will continue to work in good faith with the city to improve the IGA and strengthen the overall success of the More MARTA Atlanta Program.” 

The next step is a meeting between MARTA officials and Mayor Andre Dickens to get on the same page.