The Atlanta Braves have clinched a playoff berth after a season with many road bumps. They did it in last-day fashion after knocking off the New York Mets in the final game of the regular season. Marcell Ozuna’s two-run single was the highlight of the day for the team. The Braves will travel to San Diego to take on the red-hot Padres in a best-of-three Wild Card set.
Injury Bug
The 2024 Braves season is defined as “the next man up.” Although some think the saying is overused, it was a season of appearances from unlikely players. The Braves opening lineup played together once, and that was opening day, where they played six innings together. Sean Murphy fell with an oblique strain after a swing in the sixth inning. His injury would last two months and start a trend of injuries.
Braves Opening Day lineup in Philadelphia:
RF Acuña Jr.
2B Albies
3B Riley
1B Olson
DH Ozuna
CF Harris II
C Murphy
SS Arcia
LF KelenicRHP Spencer Strider
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) March 29, 2024
| Pos | Name | G |
|---|---|---|
| 1B | Matt Olson* | 162 |
| 2B | Ozzie Albies# | 99 |
| SS | Orlando Arcia | 157 |
| 3B | Austin Riley (15-day IL) | 110 |
| LF | Jarred Kelenic* | 131 |
| CF | Michael Harris II* | 110 |
| RF | Ronald Acuña Jr. (60-day IL) | 49 |
| DH | Marcell Ozuna | 162 |
| C | Sean Murphy | 72 |
Avoiding Disaster
Entering the 2024 season, the Braves entered as the favorites to clinch a playoff berth and win the World Series. FanGraphs entered the NL East defending champions as a 24.9% WS favorite, and 94.9% to make the postseason. After 2023’s historic regular season, it seemed like a no brainer for the Brian Snitker led ball club to easily cruise their way in. After entering May with a 19–9 record, the Philadelphia Phillies and Braves were going head to head for the NL East crown. Since then, the Braves have a record of 70–64 from May 1 to September 30. They caught fire near the end of the season, and with the fall of the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Braves earned their playoff spot in the last game of the season.
Unfamiliar Faces
As a team, the unexpected occurred to so many fans and players in the clubhouse. Names that came into the team this year were either released by other teams or free agents the entire season. Players such as Whit Merrifield, Gio Urshela, Cavan Biggio, Ramon Laureano, Eddie Rosario, and Adam Duvall came into the team to replace injured players. On the postseason roster includes Merrifield, Urshela, Biggio, and Laureano.
The Impossible
Although the Braves snuck into the playoffs, any team that can catch fire at the right team can find their way into the World Series. Their 2021 run to the pennant and World Series title can be described as “finding your groove at the right time.” The Texas Rangers did the same last season. The playoffs have had two seasons so far with three wild card teams. In those two seasons, three out of four teams to make the World Series were in the Wild Card.
2021 was the last postseason to not implement three wild card teams. The Braves conquered it all. Can they do it again this season? It all starts Game One Tuesday night against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
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