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Checking in on the 2017 Atlanta Braves Schedule

By Alan Carpenter

Mar 2, 2015; Kissimmee, FL, USA; Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch (left) goes over the practice schedule with Lance Berkman during morning work outs at Osceola County Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2015; Kissimmee, FL, USA; Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch (left) goes over the practice schedule with Lance Berkman during morning work outs at Osceola County Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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A new San Diego State Aztecs helmet featuring the Aztec calendar.  Hey, it’s the closest thing to a “calendar” I could find. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
A new San Diego State Aztecs helmet featuring the Aztec calendar.  Hey, it’s the closest thing to a “calendar” I could find. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /

July

I noted that it’s good to get road games stockpiled early on in the season.  However July is going to be a rough month after a big run of home games in May and June.  8 home games in July; 17 on the road… and some of the home games are barely worth unpacking for.

Happily, the All-Star Break (July 10-13; MIami) occurs in July to provide substantial recovery time.  Nonetheless, the Braves start the month by finishing one West Coast trip, then embark on a second one before it’s done.

More from Tomahawk Take

Opponents:

  • ROAD:  Athletics (2 more games in a series started in June)
  • HOME: Astros (yes, this in an incomprehensible 2-game homestand)
  • ROAD:  Nationals (4 games)
  • ALL-STAR BREAK
  • HOME:  DBacks, Cubs
  • ROAD:  Dodgers, DBacks, Phillies
  • Off-days:  July 3rd and 27th for traveling back to the East, plus AS Break
  • Streaks:  13 games coming off the break

August

Finally – back home.  The schedule does provide a substantial break this month, though not necessarily with the opposition.  17 home games; 11 on the road.

9 of the games from the end of July through August will be with the Phillies, 7 are with the Rockies, and there’s also 7 with the Dodgers within 2 weeks.

If you’re gonna go to Colorado, I suppose that piggy-backing that trip with one to St. Louis is about as easy as it will ever get.

Opponents:

  • HOME:  Dodgers, Marlins, Phillies (2)
  • ROAD:  Cardinals, Rockies
  • HOME:  Reds, Mariners, Rockies
  • ROAD:  Phillies, Cubs
  • Off-days:  2 at home sandwiched around a 2-game set with Philadelphia. Also the 24th is a home town off-day.
  • Streaks:  10 games wrapped from July into August, then 13 starting on the 11th.  The long run begins on the 25th and extends through September 10th (17 games).

September/October

The season ends on Sunday October 1st against the Fish in Miami.  Hopefully there isn’t a hurricane hitting there that last weekend (dome or not).  The Braves also go to New York that week, so they almost bookend the season at CitiField.

There’s 16 home games and 13 on the road to finish.  Typically, the schedule-makers will built in an extra off-day or two for most teams in an effort to allow a chance to make up a rainout from earlier in the year.  That could pose some problems for the Braves if this becomes an issue, for they only have 2 free passes in September – both on Mondays; one of those in the midst of a homestand.

Additionally, note that 17-games-in-a-row run wrapped from August.  If some brilliant scheduler believes that September 11th is needed for a make-up game, then that would require Atlanta to play 24 games on consecutive days.  Not good… and that would require a waiver from the players’ association.

Otherwise it’s all NL East rivals for the last 3 weeks.  For the full month, we will see the Mets twice, Nationals twice, Marlins twice, Phillies once.

Opponents:

  • ROAD:  Finishing a 4 game set at Wrigley (Cubs)
  • HOME: Rangers, Marlins
  • ROAD:  Nationals (just 3 games)
  • HOME: Mets, Nationals, Phillies
  • ROAD:  Mets, Marlins
  • Off-days:  September 11th and 18th only.
  • Streaks:  17 games wrapped back from August, 13 in a row to end the season.

Projecting Difficulty

The West Coast road trips are not horrible – only one involves 3 cities.  Having the ALWest on the schedule could be a net “plus” for the NL East teams.  If the A’s and Angels are bad teams, then that’s certainly a help.

My own guess is that Houston, while “All-In” for this season, may not be able to sustain that momentum for next season given that they are struggling to get consistent offensive performers and may not wish to spend the resources to replace their cast-offs.  Seattle and Texas are wild-card unknowns for 2017.

The NL East is hard to handicap:  Will Washington be able to sustain this year’s performance?  Will the Mets be healthy and will Yoenis Cespedes return for them?  What can/will Miami do?  The Phillies will have plenty of money (upwards of $100 million!), but what would they be inclined to spend it on?

Next: It's Baby Time

Overall, it looks to be a much more favorable schedule for Atlanta next year – certainly true given the start we had in 2016 and the expectations of having a much better team in 2017.  I would guess that we’re all wanting to fast-forward the calendar to next April to see that get started!

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