What does the Atlanta Braves schedule hold down the stretch?

3 of 3

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 27: Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting a popfly out to second base in the fifth inning of the MLB game against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium on May 27, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /

Other teams above .500

The only other team above the mark of being completely average are the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers, who come to town for a three-game set August 16-18.

They are arguably the best team in baseball and even at their hottest, the Atlanta Braves have always remained six or seven games behind them in the race for home-field advantage.

When we traveled to Los Angeles earlier this year, it honestly wasn’t even close. With the bullpen additions of Shane Greene, Chris Martin, and Mark Melancon, the Atlanta Braves figure to be better suited to win a game or two.

That’s if Green and Martin get things on track after their initial results have been pretty miserable.

The Dodgers didn’t do much at the trade deadline, picking up a bat in Jedd Gyorko and a reliever, Adam Kolarek. But did they need to?

Sure, weaknesses can be found in their bullpen, but from Hyun-Jin Ryu to Kenley Jansen, it’s a great staff.

Oh, let’s not forget MVP candidate Cody Bellinger and a smorgasbord of other dangerous bats.

Other teams below .500

The Atlanta Braves do have reprieves down the stretch, including four games with the Toronto Blue Jays, three with the Chicago White Sox and San Francisco Giants, two with the Kansas City Royals, and one with the Colorado Rockies, a make-up game.

Of the teams, we have only played the Rockies, Giants, and Royals prior.

More from Tomahawk Take

The Braves took two games from Colorado back in April, part of a run where they won six-of-seven games after an embarrassing opening series against Philadelphia.

In a scheduling oddity, all six games against the Rockies were scheduled in April. The game on August 26 is scheduled between trips to Toronto and New York. So in three days, it’s Toronto-Denver-New York. Yuck.

We took three-of-four in San Francisco, but the Giants have been a different team since the beginning of July, climbing from the bottom of the NL West into wild card contention. So much so, that they didn’t sell off key pieces like Madison Bumgarner and Will Smith.

The Royals beat the Braves twice in July in two equally frustrating losses. The Atlanta Braves should be hungry to avenge that when they meet for two more games in the thick of September.

The Blue Jays and White Sox have certainly struggled, combining to be 35 games under .500. Chicago has an excellent young starter in Lucas Giolito, but an offense that’s rather uninspiring.

Toronto traded away their best starter in Stroman. They may actually be a bit better than their 46-69 record, considering they play in the AL East with the likes of Boston, New York, and Tampa Bay.

Next. Braves top prospects shipped to Gwinnett. dark

Despite what the future may hold, it’s certain that the Atlanta Braves control their own destiny. It comes back to an old adage — win and you’re in.

Home/Braves News