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The Atlanta Braves Playoff Chase Update

By Alan Carpenter

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Phillies, Padres, and more: Lessons from the 2022 postseason
Phillies, Padres, and more: Lessons from the 2022 postseason /

Call to the Pen

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    • I admit that I cannot be sure if anyone in the National League is actually “chasing” a playoff spot.

    Over the last ten games for each team, only St. Louis (6-4) San Francisco (7-3) and San Diego (7-3) have winning records among the contenders.  While I had predicted that Milwaukee would come back to the pack, I never imagined that they would do so by throwing out an anchor – they have now lost

    eight

    in a row

    .

    I’ve changed the chart a bit (again) this week:  division leaders are now included, plus San Diego has joined the field while Cincinnati has been dropped.  If the Reds don’t think enough of their chances to keep a key bullpen arm, then neither do I.

    So Here’s the Big Picture

    Mandatory Credit: Alan Carpenter, TomahawkTake.com. Click for full-sized version.

    Advantage…. who?

    • The next 2 weeks will be key for Atlanta, plus the late Pirates series (4 games) could be critical.
    • If St. Louis can punish the reeling Brewers this weekend, then they can: (a) coast to the division title, and (b) put Atlanta into the playoff picture.
    • The Pirates don’t have a cakewalk (how does one rate the Cubs or Boston at this point?), but they have a shot at making a run over the next 2 weeks.  That’s why the Braves’ series might become all-important.
    • The Marlins have a tough road…unless the Nats decide to mail in theit last two weekends.
    • San Diego might actually have a shot.  They have it relatively easy until facing the Giants – twice.  By then, they could be close enough to bolster their confidence.  The early test will be whether they can steal 2 games from the Dodgers.
    • Milwaukee is still in trouble – and it’s simply because they are facing way too many teams that still care… until the last week.  By then it may not matter for them.  They have to stop the bleeding right now.  My bet is that they don’t.

    So – 3-1/2 weeks to go

    My call right now is that it will be a dogfight at the end between Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Milwaukee in some order… and probably too close to call.  Two will get in, two will go home.  And then one of the two Wild Carders will go home early.

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