5 players in the NL East who could derail the Braves playoff chances

A lesson that every baseball player is taught in Little League is the fact that one player cannot win or lose a ballgame for his team. However, some players seem to be the key to success for their respective squads when facing the Atlanta Braves. 

As we get closer to 2024, we thought it would be good to take a look at five different players in the NL East who could cause some issues for the Braves. If these players perform well, it could result in more wins for their teams, meaning more of a battle for Atlanta playing baseball in October. 

Trea Turner

2024 Zips DC projections: .290 average, 25 HR, 88 RBI, and 28 stolen bases

Trea Turner got off to a horrific start with the Philadelphia Phillies after he signed a massive contract. However, in the middle of his struggles, the Phillies faithful decided to give him a standing ovation in the middle of a slump to show their support and he immediately returned to form. 

Turner playing at his full potential takes the Phillies to another level. In case you forgot, Philadelphia has eliminated the Braves from the playoffs the last two seasons. A healthy, MVP-caliber Turner could help Philadelphia win the division and keep the Braves from even making the playoffs.

Even during his time in Washington, Turner seems to always bring his best when playing against Atlanta. He has faced the Braves in 111 games since debuting in 2015 and carries a line of .305/.352/.512 through 501 plate appearances. His 142 hits against Atlanta include 27 doubles, 6 triples, 19 home runs, and 58 runs batted in.

Turner only batted .204 against the Braves during the 2023 regular season over 19 games played but that changed during the NLDS. He had a .471 average with 8 hits including 2 doubles, 2 homers, and 2 RBI. When the games counted, Turner found a way to get things done. Will he be great against Atlanta in 2024? His past performance points to that being likely.