For the Atlanta Braves, the easiest way for them to avoid chaos in their chase for a playoff spot on Sunday was to beat the Royals. Yes, there were another scenarios that could go their way and help the cause, but winning against KC would have locked up a NL Wild Card spot and, at minimum, they could play spoiler on Monday in their doubleheader with the Mets.
Unfortunately, basically that everything that could go wrong did. The Diamondbacks routed the Padres after San Diego started a knuckleballer who hadn't been good in months and never recovered. The Brewers were perfectly content to try as little as possible in their loss to the Mets as a NY win made it far more likely that both doubleheader games get played before whoever gets in travels to Milwaukee.
On top of all of that, what could be the final start of Charlie Morton's career did not go well and the Braves ultimately fell to the Royals setting the stage for Monday to make or break Atlanta's season.
The D-Backs and Mets have won and the Braves have lost, leaving all three teams tied
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) September 29, 2024
If the Mets or Braves get swept in tomorrow’s doubleheader, they will be out of the playoffs
If they split the doubleheader, Arizona will be out pic.twitter.com/yMaNEG5SgW
Braves now have to win one of two games in doubleheader with Mets to make it to the playoffs
The good news here is that the Braves' plan of holding Chris Sale back could pay dividends on Monday as he will be well-rested and will greet a Mets team that will be facing him on a short turnaround on the road. The odds remain good that Atlanta will be able to at least split this doubleheader with presumably both Sale and Spencer Schwellenbach available, but nothing is guaranteed when you play two games in one day.
If the Braves win at least one game, they are in...it is that simple. The Diamondbacks winning against the Padres opened the door where if there is a sweep in either direction, they are in. Yes, that means if New York comes in to Truist Park and sweeps the doubleheader with the Braves, Arizona and the Mets are in and the Braves are out.
For everything that finally started going the Braves' way late in the 2024 season to even give them a chance at a playoff spot, Sunday reintroduced the nightmare scenario: being eliminated by the Mets. Lord knows New York is going to be playing their brains out and would like nothing more than to ruin Braves fans' season along the way. Atlanta will have the right arms going, but the offense is going to have to pick things up if the Braves want to avoid New York getting their way.