House That Hank Built
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The Friday Atlanta Braves playoff update

By Alan Carpenter

It's still like spinning the Big Wheel to guess a playoff opponent for the Atlanta Braves right now. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
It's still like spinning the Big Wheel to guess a playoff opponent for the Atlanta Braves right now. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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Most teams (other than the Atlanta Braves) are stumbling to the finish line.

Who will the Atlanta Braves be facing next Wednesday as the playoffs begin?  We are 3 games away from the end of the regular season, and that question is still not nearly decided.

One thing that is nearly put to rest:  the #2 NL seed.  By virtue of the Braves taking care of business against the Miami Marlins (3 games to 1) while the Cubs tripped over the Pirates (1 win against 3 losses), the Braves now own the tie-breaker in addition to a fairly comfortable 2 game lead.

One more Braves win or Cub loss will clinch that #2 seed for the Braves — making them the home team in any playoff matchup not involving the Dodgers.

Beyond that… there’s chaos coming down below.  Here’s the current state of affairs:

CHICAGO CUBS (32-25)

  • 2.5 games up in division.
  • Divisional magic number is 2 (over Cardinals).
  • Play White Sox for 3 games… and they will definitely mean something to the Southsiders.
  • IN SHORT:  this division title is not settled yet.

CARDINALS (28-26)

  • 2.5 games behind Cubs.
  • Play Milwaukee (4 games).
  • Win division if they go 3-1 and Cubs are swept or lose twice.
  • Win division if they go 2-2 and Cubs are swept.
  • In both of those last 2 scenarios, St. Louis wins any tie-breaker.

PREDICTION:  One of these teams becomes the #3 seed; the other the #5 seed.  It will be close.

The Others

REDS (29-28)

  • Still have chance to tie Cubs, but would lose tie-breaker.
  • Play Minnesota for 3 meaningful games.
  • In a tie with St. Louis, tie-breaker is still in play (Reds 21-19; Cards currently 20-16 in division)
  • 1 win and they’re likely in the playoffs.

MARLINS (29-28)

  • Chance to gain any of seeds 5, 6, 7, or 8… or elimination.
  • Play in New York vs. Yankees for 3 games; Yankees battling a bit for seeding.
  • Probably need at least 1 win to get in.

GIANTS (28-28)

  • Chance to gain any of seeds 5, 6, 7, or 8… or elimination.
  • Play Padres for 4 games; San Diego is locked in as #4 seed.
  • Need 2 wins to get to 30-30 and likely promised land.

PHILLIES (28-29)

  • Probably need 2 wins and some help
  • Play Tampa Bay for 3 games; Rays nearly have #1 seed locked up, so they could cruise a bit.
  • Philly is badly banged up right now, though.

BREWERS (27-29)

  • Only real chance is to beat the Cardinals in 3 of their last 4 games.  Hard to see that happen (dropped the first game of the 5 game set already).

CHAOS SCENARIO:

  • Reds win once more
  • Marlins win once more
  • Giants split with Padres
  • Phillies win 2 of 3
  • Brewers win 3 of last 4 (forcing the Cardinals to lose 3 times)
  • In this event, all six teams finish with a .500 record and everybody becomes intimately familiar with their intra-divisional records.

In truth, this is not out of the question, given the opponents involved!  Right now, I would predict that the Reds, Marlins, and Giants all end up at .500 — becoming the 6th/7th/8th seeds in some order.

Next. Is it a 'Rotation' or names drawn from a hat?. dark

Best guess right now?  The Atlanta Braves end up with the Marlins or Giants in next week’s opening round.

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