The regular season is coming to a close fast, and unfortunately, the Atlanta Braves don't seem to be in any hurry to lock up their playoff spot. The Braves are coming off a series loss to the Cubs, and their magic number to make the postseason has only been going down with regularity because of losses from other contenders. While one would prefer Atlanta to not limp into the playoffs, the odds remain extremely good that we will see the Braves playing some October baseball.
However, the Braves themselves are not the only players that will be of interest to fans in the playoffs. As it turns out, there are a number of former Braves players that will be in the postseason as well, although the exact list of which ones is still being written.
Here are the former Braves players who are still in real contention for a playoff spot in 2026
This is a list of players on teams that have not quite clinched a playoff spot yet and who are also on their teams' active roster. You won't find Freddie Freeman, Max Fried, or William Contreras included here. Instead, we looked at the teams that still have a realistic chance of getting in and gave their rosters a quick look.
Tyler Kinley and Kenley Jansen - Tigers
The Tigers' playoff hopes are on life support, but Detroit could sneak in with a hot streak since no one in the AL seems that interested in winning this year. Tyler Kinley was a key part of the Braves' bullpen until he fell apart this season. Kenley Jansen is a likely future Hall of Fame closer who made a relatively successful one-year cameo with the Braves in 2022.
Dansby Swanson, Kevin Gausman and Jacob Webb - Cubs
As the Braves have seen firsthand, the Cubs are a very dangerous team, although they haven't quite clinched a playoff spot yet. Dansby Swanson is still a frustrating offensive player after leaving the Braves, but remains one of the game's best defenders at shortstop. Kevin Gausman had an uneven tenure in Atlanta before becoming a perennial Cy Young candidate and trade-deadline prize. Jacob Webb looked like a promising young reliever who played in parts of three seasons with the Braves. After that, Webb moved on and became a quintessential journeyman bullpen arm.
Nick Allen - Astros
The Braves swapped Allen for Mauricio Dubon in a trade with the Astros last offseason, and it feels likely that both teams are happy with how it went. The Braves got a super versatile player who was surprisingly good on offense in the first half and who was a big help after Ha-Seong Kim got hurt. Meanwhile, Houston saved some money and got the player Allen always has been: a glove-first bench infielder. The fact that he is somehow hitting .279 in 2026 is just a nice bonus.
Caleb Durbin - Red Sox
Once upon a time, the Braves sent prospect Caleb Durbin to the Yankees in the ill-fated Lucas Luetge trade. Since then, Durbin got traded to the Brewers, became a real Rookie of the Year candidate, got traded to the Red Sox, and has now become a key cog in Boston's lineup. A busy couple of years for Durbin, and nothing but regret on Atlanta's end for giving him up at all.
Erick Fedde and Sean Newcomb - White Sox
The White Sox just got bumped out of first place in the AL Central, but still have a strong chance of making it into the 2026 playoffs. Erick Fedde flopped with the Braves with an 8.10 ERA in 23.1 innings of work, but he has been significantly better as a spot starter/swingman for Chicago this season with a 3.97 ERA, although his 5.12 FIP portends some regression. Sean Newcomb was one of the Braves' most talented young arms, but control issues forced Atlanta to move on, and now Newcomb has made a nice little career for himself as a lefty reliever.
Nicky Lopez and Joc Pederson - Rangers
Joc Pederson was one of a few players who were the heart and soul of the Braves' 2021 World Series championship squad, and Nicky Lopez made a quick 25-game stop in Atlanta that same season. Both players are playing for the Rangers these days, and they are a team that is JUST on the outside of the AL Wild Card race at the moment.
Bryan De La Cruz - Phillies
Bryan De La Cruz has been a nice little find for the Phillies, who are still trying to lock up their postseason spot and potentially chase the Braves down in the NL East. In 74 plate appearances for Philly in 2026, De La Cruz has posted a .303/.351/.439. That is MUCH better than what De La Cruz did with Atlanta last season, where he posted a .453 OPS (yes, OPS) before the Braves cut him loose.
Michael Soroka and James McCann - Diamondbacks
Sigh, we miss you, Michael Soroka. Soroka dealt with a minor injury in July, but 2026 has been a resurgent campaign for him other than that speed bump. In 20 appearances (including 19 starts), the former Braves stud arm has posted a 3.45 ERA and 3.08 FIP in 104.1 innings of work for the Diamondbacks. James McCann was only catching depth down in the minors for the Braves, but he still counts as being on Arizona's active roster. That said, the Diamondbacks are really having to battle to stay in contention at all.
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