The Atlanta Braves’ “No Dog in This Hunt” Playoff Projection Post
Sep 12, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; New York Mets center fielder Yoenis Cespedes (52) hits a home run against the Atlanta Braves during the eighth inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
National League
This league is pretty easy: the Mets, Dodgers, Cardinals, Pirates, and CUBS(!) will all be playing beyond the first weekend of October. Those are the teams – there will be no others sneaking in at the last minute. The only question involves the NL Central and what order those teams will finish.
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The schedule is awesome. EVERYBODY still has to play EVERYBODY ELSE in their own division for the rest of the year… plus an odd external series. It’s great to have all teams playing head-to-head down the stretch: you’ve got to earn your place, and what better way than to do so against the very teams you’re trying to outlast.
CARDINALS – Looking almost vulnerable in September for the first time this season. They are a bit banged-up here and there and may be coasting just a bit, too. They are 4-7 in their last 11 (losing 2 of 3 to both Pirates and Cubs, plus 3 of 4 to the Reds). and the Pirates have been storming toward them, now just 3 games back. Finishing against the Braves – a series that might actually be meaningful… for St. Louis.
PIRATES and CUBS – Both playing some of their best baseball of the year. The Cubs will end up as a Wild Card team – the only question is whether they are at home or not.
The Pirates have the toughest schedule by far: after finishing with the Cubs, they travel to Los Angeles, Denver, and then Chicago for a nasty 10 game road trip: beginning with their doubleheader yesterday, Pittsburgh plays 17 games in consecutive 16 days… and the Cardinals greet them in PNC Park once they finally return home. Who wrote that script?
PROJECTIONS
The Pirates will be unable to sustain their position due to that nasty schedule. The Cubs will pass them for the home Wild Card spot, having a much easier slate down the stretch.
Chicago wins that Wild Card game, and then goes to St. Louis, where they are 6-10 (so far) vs. the Cards.
St. Louis defeats the Cubs’ dreams; the Mets out-pitch the Dodgers in a lengthy series of games in which both teams score 4 runs or less most of the time. The Dodgers are good, but they’ve just tinkered with their roster too much… and Mattingly isn’t up to the challenge.
That sets up St. Louis vs. New York. This has the makings of a really good contest, but I think the Cardinal pitching will prevail by silencing the Mets’ bats sufficiently to get back to the World Series… in 6 games. In fact, even if the Dodgers get by the Mets, I’m still thinking “St. Louis.”
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