Braves manager Brian Snitker and his team subscribe to the “one day at a time” mantra, but that’s not what we’re going to do in this exercise.
The Rockies and Dodgers are meeting in Los Angeles this week, a series that carries significant weight in the National League West race – and in sculpting the Braves’ postseason fate.
The Dodgers sit a half-game up on the Rockies for first place entering Tuesday’s game. Arizona, whom the Braves perhaps delivered a final blow, has spiraled to five back, increasingly unlikely to catch the two ahead of it.
The Braves haven't taken care of business just yet. Their magic number is seven. The Phillies are 6-1/2 behind, yet hold seven head-to-head chances in the coming weeks. But for discussions sake, we'll assume the Braves hang on (though as many point out, this is Atlanta sports; catastrophe always is a conceivable proposition).
Unless the Braves catch the Cubs, whom they’re five wins behind, or even Milwaukee, which is relegated to wild-card status in the NL Central despite owning the second-best record in the senior circuit, they’ll hold the second or third seed in the NL.
Which sets them up to face the NL West winner, i.e. the Rockies or Dodgers. There should be some intrigue in the next few days at Dodger Stadium. It won’t determine the division, but it will provide one the upper-hand.
The West runner-up is competing for a wild-card berth, where the revived Cardinals currently possess second position behind the Brewers. The Rockies and Dodgers aren’t only competition for a division title, but possibly a continuation of their season period – the loser could be left watching from their sofas.
Colorado finishes with three in Phoenix, four at home with Philadelphia and Washington. The Dodgers see the Diamondbacks between meetings with the lowly Padres and Giants. Advantage: L.A.
As for whom the Braves should root for, that’s a bit subjective. They went 2-4 against the Rockies, taking the series in Denver early in the year before being annihilated at SunTrust Park in a four-game sweep.
The Braves went 2-5 against the Dodgers in losing both series. Their last postseason run was spoiled in California by Juan Uribe, so there's the revenge angle - if you're into that.
Both teams hold 82 wins entering their series. The Braves sit at 83. It's fair to ask if the likely East champions should even want homefield advantage, boasting an NL-best 45-30 road mark against a pedestrian 38-36 home record.
Then there's the historic western troubles, even with the Braves' 6-1 trip to Arizona and San Francisco a week ago. Coors Field can make any game a blind throw of the darts. Dodger Stadium hosts one of the best atmospheres in sports, and the defending NL champs still chasing that elusive championship.
Either situation puts you against a deep lineup, solid manager, tough environment and top-flight lefties Clayton Kershaw or Kyle Freeland headlining versatile pitching groups.
The Braves won’t look ahead. They shouldn’t. But with a dozen games remaining, it’s OK to evaluate the postseason possibilities – even in Atlanta.
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