WATCH: Whit Merrifield Gets Revenge Against Philadelphia to Get Braves on the Board

The Atlanta Braves have been reliant on the castoffs of other teams to fill in for some of their injured players.

One-third of tonight's starting lineup is made up of players that were designated for assignment this season by some other organization, and that's after they already moved on from two more DFA'd players in Eddie Rosario and Zack Short.

The most veteran of those players, Whit Merrifield, got a measure of revenge on his old club tonight.

Signed this offseason by the Phillies but released after batting just .199 in a part-time role, Merrifield opened the bottom of the third inning with a leadoff triple off of Philly ace Zack Wheeler.

Merrifield's single was launched into the right field corner, where it bounced off the wall at an awkward angle that left outfielder Nick Castellanos flat-footed and out of position. Merrifield easily slid in without a throw for just his second triple of the season.

Merrifield then came around to score thanks to Michael Harris II base hit on the very next pitch, with Harris scalding a middle-middle cutter to center field at 110.5 off the bat.

In a pivotal series for the Braves, who trail Philly by six games in the National League East, an early lead is crucial with ace Zack Wheeler on the mound. After tonight's game, the Braves have two more against Philly this week and travel to Citizens Bank Park for four more next weekend.

The Braves have a tenuous hold on the final wild card spot in the National League, ahead of the division-rival New York Mets by just a game and a half. Atlanta has just three games remaining against the Mets, to be played in Truist Park September 24th through 26th.