There seems to be no hope whatsoever for the Braves to make the playoffs, however, there is a way. The Braves are surging and they have a chance to make history in a new way.
Braves look to avenge 2011 wildcard collapse by reversing near-impossible history originally appeared on The Sporting News
The Atlanta Braves have had a very disappointing season, whether due to pitching struggles or inconsistent hitting. The two facets of the game have rarely clicked at the same time all year. Brian Snitker has led the Braves to the postseason for seven consecutive seasons, but with the team's current struggles during his contract year, it seems like his time at the helm may be nearing its end.
“Because of that consistent recent success, Snit would normally be afforded a ‘mulligan’ year—even though going from the second-best preseason World Series odds to possibly the third-best odds of winning the draft lottery is a pretty serious mulligan,” Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller wrote. “At 69, though, he's already the oldest manager in the National League by a several-year margin and was likely to retire at the end of this season, which is the last one in his current contract.”
One of Snitker’s assistants may also be on the move after this season.
“With that said, the Braves cannot be successful in 2026 without fixing whatever problems they have with keeping their pitchers healthy. The organizational depth clearly isn't built to withstand the rash of injuries that has hit Atlanta's rotation the past few seasons, and at the end of the day Kranitz may not be built for it either,” HTHB’s Chase Owens wrote.
Although the Braves are likely to miss the playoffs, a postseason appearance isn’t entirely out of reach—if Atlanta can reverse history.
“It’s still a long shot, but suddenly the most stunning comeback we’ve seen in a long time becomes feasible. The Braves have been on the opposite end of this situation before. In 2011, they were eight and a half games ahead of the Cardinals at the start of September, and the Cardinals came back. While not an example fans want to remember, the precedent of a crazy comeback is out there to use as inspiration, even if it was at a team’s own expense almost 15 years ago,” SI’s Harrison Smajovits wrote.
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The Braves currently sit 10 games behind the final wild card spot, but the team is surging. Both the offense and pitching are clicking, and in baseball, anything can happen. While a comeback may seem far-fetched, those who fail to remember history are doomed to repeat it. If the Braves can clinch a playoff berth, they just might turn back the clock.
Category: Baseball
