Now that the Atlanta Braves are all but done with their offseason, fans everywhere are likely asking the same question: was it enough? Sure, the Braves are very likely to be a good team in 2023, but does the roster have enough to make a deep run in the playoffs this year? These are all fair questions and they can't be answered in a vacuum. We can intuitively know the Braves SHOULD be good enough, but the rest of the teams in the league have something to say about that, too.
In that vein, I asked the staff recently to give their predictions for just how far the Braves were going to make it in the playoffs this offseason. Obviously saying "they won't make the playoffs" was an option available to them, but as a spoiler: no one went that direction. Below you will find those very predictions. Enjoy!
How far will the Atlanta Braves make it in the playoffs in 2023?
Eric: This is super hard to predict without knowing matchups, etc. but I think this Braves team can make a deep run. I’ll say that they make it to the NLCS with a very decent shot at getting to the World Series. However, the National League is loaded with teams going for it, so I think they could run into one of those teams that gets hot at the right time and end up losing a close league championship series. This should not be disappointing for fans, but it probably will be.
Sam: This is the hardest question of the bunch. So many variables in play here. But, I do believe they have a legitimate shot to make it to the NLCS. They arguably would have made it last year had players not come down with the flu.
Fred: Today it looks like the Braves, Mets, Phillies, Cardinals, Padres and Dodgers, and with the Dodgers, Mets, Phillies and Cardinals playing in the Wildcard Series. That’s a scenario that could lead to three NL East teams and the Padres in the DS. Health plays such a big part in these things but because I have to say something, I think the NLCS is the end of the season for Atlanta this year.
Chase: Obviously postseason baseball is among the most random in all of sports, so predicting this isn’t easy. However, my gut tells me baseball gets the NLCS everyone thought was coming last year and we see the third installment of Braves vs Dodgers in the NLCS since 2020. I think Ronald outplays Mookie, Olson outplays Freeman, and the Braves out-pitch the Dodgers and make it back to the Fall Classic. I know it’s the homer pick but give me Braves over Yankees in 6 and another World Series parade for the team we love.
Mitchell: When things are too early to tell, I will always default to the Braves winning the whole thing. I like this team too much to predict that the Braves won’t win the World Series, at least before the season starts.
Trent: As mentioned in one of my earlier answers, I think the Braves have one of the best rosters in baseball. If the right guys step up, it could easily be seen as the best roster in baseball, which would make them World Series favorites. However, as we know, it is not always the best team that wins in the playoffs, it is the right combination of the healthiest team that got hot. I’ll gladly take the Braves roster over most in a playoff series though, so I hope to see a parade come November 2023.
Davis: The Dodgers were eerily quiet this offseason. The Miguel Rojas trade, for me, doesn’t make them any scarier than they already were, and we know the Braves have the capability to beat them at their best. It’s the Padres that scare me - a full season of a Juan Soto that is due to build on his slightly-down 2022, combined with a stellar pitching staff and strong bullpen - they mirror the Braves in many ways. I’ll put a stake in the ground and say the Braves take down the Padres in Game 6 of the NLCS to advance to the World Series. From there, it’s anyone’s game.
Colin: With how stacked the NL East is, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see three teams from the division make it into the playoffs, including the Braves of course. I think if you take a look at this Braves roster, on paper, they have the talent and capabilities to reach the NLCS this fall. However, October baseball is always unpredictable, and the Braves will likely have to face a team like the Dodgers or Padres this postseason. It really just depends on who gets hot at the right time.
Matt: At least the NLCS. This team has everything needed to make a deep run already, which should at-least be the NLCS. I’ll go ahead and make an extra prediction as well that the Braves and Dodgers will meet once again in October as well.