The Atlanta Braves are smack dab in the middle of arguably the hardest stretch of their schedule this year. They lost a day off due to the need to make up a game against the White Sox, then had to travel to Milwaukee (arguably the best team in the league) before finally getting a day off on Monday. However, their upcoming series against the Dodgers is the start of a stretch without a day off until September 3.
Unfortunately, things don't get any easier after that for Atlanta. The next 10 games include seven against the Phillies, with a matchup against the AL East-leading Rays sandwiched in there as well. It isn't an exaggeration to say that these next couple of weeks will make or break the Braves' 2026.
However, the Braves DO have a little bit of wiggle room. Yes, Atlanta's current stretch is extremely daunting and could allow the Phillies to overtake the Braves in the NL East standings. The Braves do have an ace up their sleeve, though, and it has to do with how their season ends.
Braves' current stretch is brutally difficult, but their end-of-season schedule is about as soft as it gets
It is entirely possible the Braves will be in some trouble once they get to the middle of September. Series against the Dodgers, Nationals, Phillies (x2), Rays, and Cubs could easily go awry, with several of the league's best and/or most dangerous teams in there. Thankfully, their schedule doesn't stay that hard.
Once the Braves leave Chicago, they head to Houston to take on the Astros. While there is a chance that the Astros will be playing for a playoff spot, they are also heading in the wrong direction this season and just fired general manager Dana Brown. After that, the Braves have a home series against the Reds, who are one of the worst teams in baseball right now, and the Marlins, who are a middling club that is likely to be out of the playoff hunt by that point of the schedule.
The ease of that schedule, along with a soft matchup against the Rockies earlier in the month as a bit of a reprieve during the onslaught, could work to the Braves' advantage. While Atlanta's schedule eases up, the Phillies have to deal with the Brewers and Rays to close out the season. Once you look at it that way, the Braves surviving this part of their schedule could be enough to clinch the NL East.
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