FanPost

The Next 20 Days Could be the most influential of all... (Updated: Final Results*)

The Players:

Atlanta Braves (70-64) - 18 games: vs. MIA(3), vs. PHI(3), @ MIA(3), @ WAS(3), @ TEX(3), vs. WAS(3)

Washington Nationals (75-57) - 19 games: @ SEA(3), @ LAD(3), vs. PHI(3), vs. ATL(3), @ NYM(4), @ ATl(3)

St. Louis Cardinals (71-61) - 20 games: vs. CHC(4), vs. PIT(3), @ MIL(4), @ CIN(4), vs. COL(3), vs. MIL(3)*

San Francisco Giants (71-62) - 18 games: vs. MIL(3), @ COL(3), @ DET(3), vs. ARI(3), vs. LAD(3), @ ARI(3)

Pittsburgh Pirates (69-64) - 18 games: vs. CIN(3), @ STL(3), @ CHC(3), @ PHI(4), vs. CHC(3), vs. BOS(3)*

*denotes the middle of series on Sept. 17

The East

As you can see the Braves can control a lot of their own destiny simply due to the fact they play the gNats in six of the 18 games. They also play Miami twice (albeit home and away), a three game home set against the Phillies, and three games on the road against the abysmal Rangers. To have a fighting chance the Braves would have to go 14-4 for any shot at the Division, and 11-7 to remain in a good position for the Bud's Wild Wild West Show! I figure the Braves need to take at least four of the six games against the Nationals and win every other series to be right back in the middle of the hunt.

This is a stretch where I believe the gNats are truly vulnerable (Call me crazy, because I'm still hoping to win the division). The Nationals start a west coast road trip (we all remember how well the Braves did on their own west coast trip) against the very-much-in-the-playoff-race Mariners, facing both King Felix and Hisashi Iwakuma, and then slide on down to play the Dodgers for a three game set. Then return to play the Phillies and Braves at home before heading out on the road to face the Mets and Braves once again. Call me crazy, because gNats certainly aren't a bad team by any stretch, but the in terms of improving the Braves chances the gNats would have to go 9-10 during this time to keep the division competitive. And 6-13 over the stretch for the Braves to have a chance at re-taking the division lead.

The Wild Card (insert Charlie Kelly meme here)

The Cardinals, currently in the first wild card spot, play 20 games in 20 days including a double header against the 2016 World Series Champion Cubs. After four games in three days against the Cubs, the Cards take on wild card contender Pittsburgh for three games then hit the road for eight games against Milwaukee and Cincinnati. They then return home for three game sets against Colorado and Milwaukee. The biggest benefit to the Braves playoff chances is catching the Cardinals when they are tired and on playing divisional opponents. The Cards would need to go 10-10 and the Braves 11-7 to create a tie for the first wild card.

The Giants are currently in the second wild card spot with a 1.5 game lead on the Braves for the final spot. The Giants play 18 games over the next 20 days including 12 games in their division and nine games against playoff contenders. They begin tonight with a weekend series at home against the Brewers, before going on the road for three game sets with Colorado and Detroit. The Giants follow up their short road trip with three games against Arizona and the Dodgers at home, before facing Arizona again on the road. San Francisco may have the most favorable schedule in that the face Arizona twice and play the Dodgers at home. Unless the Giants go 8-10 the Braves are really going to need to help themselves if they want to climb into that second wild card position.

The Pirates are the odd man out in my opinion currently sitting a half game behind the Braves and two games behind the Giants for the second wild card spot. Like the Braves and Giants, the Pirates too play 18 games over this 20 day period including a ten game road trip. the Pirates square off tonight against the Reds for the weekend series, before embarking on the road trip which takes them to St. Louis for three games, Chicago for three games, and Philadelphia for four games. The Bucs then return home to play the Cubs and Red Sox. In relation to the Braves, the Pirates having ten games on the road helps, but for the most part the schedule isn't daunting and the Pirates are on the border of being both healthy and hot. Ultimately if the Pirates are better than 10-8 during this stretch, they could easily surpass the Braves.

Make or Break:

At minimum the Braves need to go 11-7 over the next 18 games and hope for a little disaster from the other contenders. They also need to take take at least 4 four of the six games against Washington.

To truly remain relevant in the National League East pennant race, the Braves have to go 14-4 and take all six games from the gNats and hope the gNats play .500 ball against their other opponents.

Listen, I know it's a long shot but I'm always an optimist when it comes to the Braves winning the division. However, I would even have to say that if the standings remain the same in 20 days, not only will the division be 100% gone but I think any playoff chances would be all but extinct.

Go Braves!

*Updated*

The records of each of the teams discussed

Braves: 6-12

Nationals: 13-6 clinched NL East

Cardinals: 13-7

Giants: 12-6

Pirates: 12-6

Bonus:Brewers: 6-13

As you can see even had the Braves showed a little better effort, the overall standings might not be so different.

Alas, til next season

This FanPost does not express the views or opinions of Battery Power.