The Atlanta Braves have clinched a playoff spot, a remarkable feat considering many wrote them off early in the season due to a slew of injuries and an inconsistent offense.
It’s been a year of highs and lows, but now, the real challenge begins as they head to the West Coast for a Wild Card showdown with the San Diego Padres. The celebration will have to be brief because the Braves are facing some serious competition, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
What lies ahead for Atlanta is no walk in the park. They are set to face the Padres, and the fear of a Game 3 battle against San Diego’s ace, Dylan Cease. Cease, a Milton, Georgia native who grew up rooting for the Braves, has been nothing short of a nightmare for his hometown team.
Over his career, he’s racked up a 2-0 record with a 3.60 ERA and 22 strikeouts in just three appearances against Atlanta. His last outing against the Braves on July 13 was a masterclass in domination. Cease fanned 11 batters over six innings while only allowing a single hit. Talk about intimidating.
Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos made a very public attempt to bring Cease to Atlanta last offseason. Fans at Braves Fest even chanted for the deal, hoping to see the Georgia-born star come home.
Anthopoulos, however, admitted during a January interview on 93.7 FM The Fan that the cost was just too high. “We already tried, we tried, too expensive,” he confessed, a statement that still stings a bit considering the stakes now.
The Braves know what they’re up against, and manager Brian Snitker’s squad has no room for error. Atlanta will need to come out swinging in Games 1 and 2 to avoid facing Cease. First up on Tuesday is Padres right-hander Michael King.
He has been on fire in the second half of the season, posting a stellar 2.15 ERA. King couldn’t help but poke a little fun at the Braves situation. “I know the Braves just went through a crazy day,” he said. “We’re hoping to give them a little bit more craziness.”
Following King in Game 2 will be Joe Musgrove, whose 3.88 ERA makes him the “weakest” of the Padres’ announced starters—though he’s certainly no pushover. The Braves will need to capitalize on any cracks in San Diego’s pitching armor if they hope to avoid that winner-take-all Game 3 showdown with Cease.
For Atlanta, the equation is simple but unforgiving. The need to take care of business early, or risk going against one of baseball’s best in a do-or-die Game 3. There’s no time for hesitation—the Braves need to come out with all guns blazing, or they could find themselves out of the playoffs before the journey even begins.
