2024 proved to be a wild ride for the Atlanta Braves. Coming into the season, most fans and pundits expected another dominant performance, building on their six consecutive National League East division titles.
But this time, the Philadelphia Phillies had other plans, clinching the division with an impressive 95-67 record. The Braves, alongside the resurgent New York Mets, found themselves tied for second place with an 89-73 record—a solid season by most standards but a far cry from their lofty expectations.
Despite missing out on the division crown, the Braves still clawed their way into October via the NL Wild Card. And how did they do it? Well, it was nothing short of remarkable. This Braves team accomplished something no other club in Major League Baseball history had done: make the playoffs with three of their Opening Day starters sidelined for the last 35+ games due to injury. Atlanta defied historic odds, overcoming injuries to key players that would have left many teams dead in the water.
The @Braves:
4/5: Strider season-ending injury
5/26: Acuña season-ending injury
8/18: Riley season-ending injuryNo other MLB team has ever made the playoffs in a year where 3 of their Opening Day starters missed the final 35+ regular-season games (plus the playoffs) on the IL. pic.twitter.com/xWvx2rr073
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) October 1, 2024
You have to give credit where it’s due, and a lot of that goes to GM Alex Anthopoulos. He somehow managed to patch up the roster on the fly. With stars dropping like flies, unsung heroes like Whit Merrifield, Gio Urshela, and Jorge Soler stepped up when it mattered most. Add in young talent like Spencer Schwellenbach, and you had a Braves team that, though battered, wasn’t going to roll over.
For manager Brian Snitker, this playoff berth feels like a victory in itself. It’s hard to argue with that when you think about the adversity this team faced. Fans can’t help but draw comparisons to their magical 2021 World Series run, and while it’s a long shot to expect lightning to strike twice, Snitker remains hopeful. The Braves might not be the juggernaut they were a few years ago, but postseason baseball is a whole different animal—anything can happen.
We’re in now, fellas! pic.twitter.com/VK5o9vGaxb
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 30, 2024
Atlanta opened their Wild Card series against the San Diego Padres on a tough note, getting shut down 4-0 in Game One, with Padres’ pitching striking out an eye-popping 15 batters. Now, they’re turning to ace Max Fried in Game Two, where it’s win-or-go-home. No one needs to remind Fried of the stakes as he’s been in these pressure-packed situations before. And if there’s one thing Braves fans know, it’s that this team has a knack for making the improbable seem possible.
No matter how this series ends, the 2024 Braves have given their fans a reason to believe. Through the injuries, the doubters, and the tough breaks, they stayed in the fight and punched their ticket to October. It may not be a World Series or even a division title, but in many ways, it’s just as sweet. Resilience like this is what keeps fans coming back year after year.
