Strap in because the Braves are in for a wild ride over the next three weeks, and it’s going to come down to the wire with their pitching rotation. We’re talking 19 games left, 21 days to get through it, and a playoff spot on the line.
As things stand, Atlanta is neck and neck with the Mets for the last Wild Card spot, and just a game and a half behind the Diamondbacks for the second. They’ve got a chance, but to make it happen, their pitching staff is going to have to carry the load, especially considering their offense has been less than stellar recently.
So what’s the plan to get the Braves through this final stretch and into the postseason? It’s all about tweaking that rotation. Let’s dig in, starting with the upcoming schedule.
After Monday’s makeup game against Cincinnati, it’s a two-game series in Washington, followed by a well-needed off day before facing the Dodgers in a four-game showdown at home. Then it’s a road trip to Cincinnati and Miami, another off day, and finally, a critical three-game series at home against the Mets, with three more to finish the season against the Royals.
Here’s where things get interesting: The Braves have a chance to rearrange their pitching rotation to maximize their best arms in the most crucial games, and it starts by skipping Spencer Schwellenbach’s start in the first game against the Dodgers. Instead, Chris Sale should take the mound. He’ll be on regular rest thanks to the off day, and having him face off against LA would be a huge plus.
After Sale, the rotation stays strong with Charlie Morton, Reynaldo Lopez, and Max Fried finishing the Dodgers series. Schwellenbach can take the first game in Cincinnati, keeping the rest of the rotation in line. This way, you’ve got Sale, Morton, and Lopez for the final two games in Cincinnati and the first in Miami, with Schwellenbach closing out the Miami series.
Now, let’s talk about the biggest series of the year: Mets vs. Braves. These three games will likely determine who gets the final playoff spot, and Atlanta needs their best arms ready. Sale, Lopez, and Fried are your guys for this series, skipping Morton to make sure no one’s pitching on short rest. This lineup gives the Braves their best shot at securing the tiebreaker against the Mets, a crucial factor since they’re currently tied for the final Wild Card spot.
By lining up Sale to pitch the opener against the Mets, you also set him up for the final game of the season against the Royals. If the Braves find themselves needing a win to punch their ticket to the playoffs, who better to have on the mound than the guy who might just walk away with a Cy Young Award this year? And if game 162 ends up being meaningless (fingers crossed that means they’ve already secured a spot), you can hold Sale back for Game 1 of the playoffs.
This plan puts the Braves’ pitching rotation in prime position for the final stretch. No one’s pitching on short rest, Schwellenbach gets a brief breather, and your top three arms—Sale, Lopez, and Fried—are lined up to take on the Mets in the biggest games of the season. Plus, you’ve got Sale ready for a win-or-go-home situation if it comes down to that.
Let’s not forget, the Braves had an opportunity to rearrange their rotation earlier in the season before a crucial series with the Phillies, but they didn’t take it. The result? Chris Sale didn’t pitch a single game in that series, while the Braves faced Philadelphia’s best arms twice, going 3-4 and effectively ending their division hopes. They can’t afford to make the same mistake again.
By skipping Schwellenbach before the Dodgers series and Morton during the Mets series, the Braves give themselves the best shot at success. It’s not a guaranteed ticket to the playoffs, but on paper it seems like the smartest move they can make with their pitching rotation.
