Coming into their series with the Royals, there were a number of scenarios that could have unfolded for the Atlanta Braves over the weekend. Some of them involved Kansas City having to push as hard as possible all weekend long to preserve their own playoff spot and the Braves having to try and cling on for dear life to keep their potential doubleheader against the Mets relevant. Others would make Atlanta's path significantly easier. Fortunately, Max Fried was on the mound for the Braves on Friday for the first game.
Getting the first game of the series against the Royals was seen as crucial by many fans andobservers. It was the only realistic way to create a path to the playoffs for the Braves that didn't involve a win-take-all situation on Monday that nobody wants to happy. Fortunately for the Braves, not only did Fried absolutely shove against Kansas City to secure the win, but a number of other things broke the Braves' way to give the team life on the last weekend of the season.
Max Fried tips his cap to the home crowd as he walks off the Truist Park mound to a standing ovation. pic.twitter.com/A1kIjo0DtA
— MLB (@MLB) September 28, 2024
Max Fried's potential last regular season start for Braves could not have gone any better especially when it comes to their playoff chances
Obviously the elephant in the room here is that Friday's start at Truist Park could the last time we see Fried in a Braves uniform in the regular season. If that is the case, no one can be upset with what Fried gave the Braves and their fans as he finished one out shy of a complete game shutout. The offense certainly didn't give him a ton of room to work with, but Fried didn't need any help on this night. He was dialed in from the first batter and stayed that way all night long.
Getting the win over the Royals was actually only part of the reason why Friday was so great for the Braves, although it certainly was the biggest piece of the puzzle. Despite losing the game, the Royals still clinched a spot in the playoffs after the Twins lost to the Orioles. That means that Kansas City "basically" has nothing left to play for the rest of the weekend unless they have a playoff seed they prefer. That was confirmed after the game when Royals coach Brian Sweeney revealed to their broadcast that Kansas City wasn't going to start Seth Lugo this weekend now that they have clinched a spot which would have made things significantly harder for Atlanta.
On top of that, the Mets lost to the Brewers to bring them into a tie with the Braves in the NL Wild Card race AND the Diamondbacks lost to the Padres which now has Arizona on the outside looking in in the playoff race. San Diego did clinch home field in the Wild Card round which could make things easier for Arizona for the rest of that series, but everything else went according to plan for the Braves.
Atlanta still has to some work to do and a series sweep of the Royals remains easily their most ideal outcome. That possibility is still on the table thanks to Fried's heroics on Friday.