The Atlanta Braves finally found their way back to the postseason after a disastrous 2025 season kept them out of the playoffs. It wasn't always easy. The season started poorly, with Jurickson Profar being suspended a second straight season for PEDs. However, the offense looked amazing early on without him, and the offense looked similar to the 2023 version.
Unfortunately, that consistency did not last, as the team had many rough patches. Atlanta just couldn't get the clutch hits when they needed to. The pitching was solid all year, even though injuries threatened to derail it all year. However, the Braves rattled off winning streaks when they needed them, and the rest of the NL East stunk enough to help them win another division title.
Now the Braves will face off with the dreaded Phillies in the Wild Card round of the 2026 postseason. It's a tough first task since the Phillies have owned Atlanta in the playoffs with a 10-4 record against them. The Braves hope to disrupt this trend and give themselves a chance at their second World Series title in five years.
The silver lining is that Atlanta crushed Philly in the regular season, with a 9-4 record against. However, fans will rightfully be hesitant to be excited, as the Braves haven't made it out of the first round of the playoffs since winning the World Series in 2021.
GM Alex Anthopoulos has helped build some great teams since he took over the organizational reins in 2018. Let's revisit how the team has fared each year since then.
Here are all of the Braves playoff runs (so far) under Alex Anthopoulos and how they ended
2018 - Dropped NLDS to the Dodgers
It was expected the Braves would lose this series, as the Dodgers outmatched them in every way. However, Atlanta shocked everyone by winning the division in 2018. Fans also got their first taste of postseason Ronald Acuna Jr., and he gave them an incredible moment with his grand slam off Walker Buehler.
2019 - Lost in the NLDS to the Cardinals
We won't focus on this for too long, as the pain of Game Five in this series still haunts Braves fans. Starting pitching failed Atlanta in that game (and elsewhere in that series), forcing them to end their hopes for a deep postseason run.
2020 - Lost to the Dodgers in the NLCS
The Braves finally found their way to the NLCS after sweeping the Reds in the NL Wild Card and the Marlins in the NLDS, but those pesky Dodgers stood in their way once again as Atlanta lost the NLCS 3 games to 4. However, it was a hard-fought series and put the rest of baseball on notice that the Braves were serious contenders.
2021 - The Braves finally take home the World Series title
Despite a rough first half, including losing Acuna to a season-ending injury, AA made some incredible moves at the trade deadline to get the team into the playoffs. Atlanta throttled the Brewers in the NLDS, completed multiple comebacks to conquer the Dodgers in the NLCS, and overpowered the Astros to bring a World Series home.
2022 - Lost to the Phillies 3 games to 1 in the NLDS
2023 - Lost to the Phillies 3 games to 1 in the NLDS
2024 - Swept by the Padres in the Wild Card Series
After that World Series win, we have a trio of first-round exits that remain painful to even think about. The Braves desperately need to find a way to prove to fans that they can get back to playing quality playoff baseball. Their first test won't be easy, with a team that is very familiar with them. But they have the talent to prove everyone wrong.
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