Why the Braves Should Make the Wildcard Interesting (and make the post-season)

After last nights loss I began to feel like the NL wildcard was out of reach for the Braves. Jimmy Rollins successfully ended the Braves season with his heads up double play- Second to Short to THIRD! After a few minutes of feeling let down and deflated I realized this was not over yet. I mean the day before the Braves smoked the Phillies, and when looking ahead on the schedule, there are only two slightly tough series left. One with the Phils and one with the Cardinals.

The Braves schedule is as follows: Marlins, Reds, Astros, Cardinals, Mets, Phillies, Mets, Nationals, Marlins and Nationals.

First up are the Marlins in Florida. The Braves are currently 5-6 against the fish, but with the recent play of the two teams and the pitching matchups, I expect the braves to take 3 of 4 and come out of the series one game closer to the Phillies and the Giants.

Atlanta is 3-3 against Cincinnati, yet again this is a different team from the last time they met. The Reds are now 17 games below .500 and the Braves are no longer teetering on having a losing season. These three games, in Atlanta, should be a sweep for the Braves.

Next the Braves head to Texas and play the Houston Astros. This is yet another below .500 hundred team, and the Braves should be able to take 2 of the 3 games.

The newly acquired Cardinal, John Smoltz would like to see his success continue when he returns to Atlanta, however the Braves cultivated this arm and should be able to beat him should he pitch in the series. Despite the defeat of Smoltz, the Braves will only go 1-2 in this 3 game series in St. Louis.

Next up are the NY Mets. Enough said. This is the worst team in the league, even the Nationals are starting to come around and have a good finish. The Braves play the Bad News Mets twice and should go 5-1.

In between the Mets Series, Hot-lanta gets some excitement and the Phillies come to town. The braves are 4-2 against the Phils at home and should easily take 2 of the 3.

The Braves must travel to DC before the Nats head to Atlants, and despite the recent surge, the braves should easily take each series, and bring their 7-4 record against the Nats to 12-6. the Braves may drop two in DC as it is the Nats finally home stand.

Sandwiched in between the Nationals series is a final look at the Marlins. 3 games in Atlanta. 3 wins for the Braves.

From now till the end of the season the braves should pull close to the Phillies, but not overtake them, and they should knock the Marlins out of the wildcard race. The braves have a total of 32 games left and should be able to go 24-8 and reach the post season. All they need now is a collapse from the Giants who have to go through the Phillies and then face the Dodgers for 2 series. As long as the braves win each of their next series, we should see the Braves make the post season!