The Atlanta Braves are gearing up for a crucial four-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies, and despite recent setbacks, they’re not backing down.
After falling to the Phillies in the postseason for the past two years, the Braves are eyeing a rematch. Coming into this series, the Braves had been one of the hottest teams in Major League Baseball, winning 12 of their last 16 games and closing the gap on the Phillies’ 10-game lead in the National League East down to just five games.
However, the Braves missed a golden opportunity to tighten the race for their seventh consecutive division title. Instead, they dropped three out of four games to the Phillies, who are now on the brink of their first NL East title since 2011. According to FanGraphs, the Phillies’ chances of clinching the division have skyrocketed to 95.9%.
Despite the disappointing series, Braves manager Brian Snitker remains defiant and hopeful for a postseason rematch against the Phillies. “Absolutely,” Snitker said when asked about the possibility of facing Philadelphia again in October. “I hope we can. I’d love nothing else than to see them again because that means we’re in [the playoffs].”
The series featured some standout moments, particularly from Phillies slugger Nick Castellanos, who dominated Braves rookie reliever Grant Holmes in two separate games. In the series finale, Castellanos delivered a walk-off single in the 11th inning off Holmes, who had pitched two consecutive fastballs.
Despite the setback, Snitker still has confidence in his rookie reliever. “[Holmes has] got weapons to get him out,” Snitker said. “He’s a good match for him. It didn’t work out. That’s one of the things we didn’t execute.”
If the Braves and Phillies meet in the playoffs for the third consecutive year, Atlanta will likely enter as a Wild Card team. While their chances of winning the division have dwindled to just 3.3%, the Braves still have a 76.6% chance of making the playoffs. They currently hold a slim lead for the third NL Wild Card spot, with the New York Mets just one game behind.
As the postseason looms, the Braves are determined to regroup and make a strong push, with Snitker leading the charge.
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