Atlanta Braves and Arizona Diamondbacks Second Place Match-Up
By Jeff Schafer
Second Place Teams Match-Up Could Be Big
After leaving Los Angeles after todays game against the Dodgers, the Atlanta Braves head to Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks in a three-game series starting Monday. The Diamondbacks and Braves are each sitting in second place in the Western and Eastern Divisions, respectively.
Now second place might sound like it is enticing, but each team’s situation is totally different.
In the Western Division, the Diamondbacks currently have a 56-41 record. However, the Diamondbacks are in the same division as the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have been putting up such unrealistic numbers, there seems to be no chance of catching the Dodgers and making a run at the division title. They are currently 10.5 games out of first and are going in the opposite direction as the Dodgers, as the Diamondbacks are 3-7 in their last ten games, while the Dodgers are 8-2.
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Division, the Braves sit in second place with a 47-49 record – yes, below .500 – behind the Washington Nationals in what has been a weak division this year, outside of the Nationals play. Currently the Braves are 11 games out of first, but are 5-5 in their last ten games, while the Nationals are 7-3.
More from Braves News
- Atlanta Braves 2012 Prospect Review: Joey Terdoslavich
- Braves News: Braves sign Fuentes, Andruw’s HOF candidacy, more
- The Weakest Braves Homers Since 2015
- Atlanta Braves Sign Joshua Fuentes to Minor League Deal
- Braves News: New Year’s Eve comes with several questions about the 2023 Braves
What Can This Series Do?
With the weak play the Diamondbacks have had lately, this could play right into the Braves favor. Yes, unless there is a total collapse by either the Dodgers or the Nationals, neither the Diamondbacks or the Braves will win their division.
However, two wild cards available opens up a lot more possibilities. The Diamondbacks are sitting as a front runner for one of the wild card spots, but a series sweep for the Braves could help them gain some ground for one of the wild cards.
Some say a sweep is not possible, but after already taking two games from the Dodgers, something few teams have been able to do this year, what is to say the momentum the Braves are gaining in Los Angeles does not carry over to Arizona?
Next: Does Grand Slam Put Jaime Garcia in Record Books
It might not seem like it, but if the Braves do take the three games against the Diamondbacks, what is to say they do not make a run at the postseason?