FanPost

FAN POST FRIDAY: My Preferred Playoff Opponent

My preferred opponent is kind of conflicted. I would love for the Braves to go on a streak and take over the NL's best record. However, that scenario may be the most difficult at this point. It would require the Cubs to start losing, which isn't very likely considering there remaining schedule is somewhat easier than the Braves. It would also require the Braves to clinch the NL East, and then "keep pushing hard". When I say "keep pushing hard" I mean the Braves would most likely not rest any of their "core" players. The reward of being the top seed in the NL is getting to play the "Lightning Round" winner. This is good because the winner of the Wild Card would most likely not have their number one starter available. So advantage Braves. But I think I would rather the Braves have the ability to rest some guys before the season is over. Even if it's just a few games.

So with that being said, I feel like the better, and more realistic option, would be a preferred matchup versus the Dodgers. And it's not for reasons you would think:

The Cubs will hold off Milwaukee and win the Central. The Brewers and Cardinals will play in the Wild Card game. And Milwaukee will prevail in an epic game. The Dodgers will catch the Rockies, and take the West, while Colorado goes on a rough losing streak playing the Giants, Dodgers, D-Backs, Phillies, and Nationals to finish off the season. So the NL playoff picture will look like this:

  • #1 Chicago Cubs (winner of NL Central)
  • #2 Atlanta Braves (winner of NL East)
  • #3 Los Angeles Dodgers (winner of NL West)
  • #4 Milwaukee Brewers (winner of Wild Card game)
NLDS #1: Brewers vs. Cubs (Brewers win in 5)
NLDS #2: Dodgers vs. Braves (Braves win in 3)

NLCS: Braves vs. Brewers (Braves win in 6)

World Series: Braves vs. Red Sox (Braves win in 7)

Yes, the Dodgers are scary. There was a stretch this season where LA was scoring runs better then the Red Sox. The Dodgers are deep. They have a great manager. And more importantly, they are playoff-tested. I'm gonna go with a "Snitker approach" to this. You know how he keeps putting that reliever in the game, even when that said reliever has horrible numbers.. ? And how he kept putting Ender in the two-hole in the batting lineup, when Ender was awful...? Well how fitting would it be for the Braves to pull a "Snit" in the 2018 Playoffs. The truth is, the Dodgers are better than the Braves. And I'm gonna take a strategy out of the "Snit Book" and say the Braves are due!

Not that it's very important, but the Braves haven't really faired well against LA this season, only two wins out of seven meetings. And LA has outscored Atlanta 35 - 18 this year also. And to add more insult to injury, the Dodgers starting pitchers have pitched well versus Atlanta too:

Kershaw vs. ATL▪7.2 IP / 6 hits / 8 SO / 1 ER

Hill vs. ATL▪7 IP / 3 hits / 8 SO / 0 ER

Stripling vs. ATL▪6.2 IP / 4 hits / 6 SO / 2 ER

And to keep up with the theme, you guessed it, the Braves's pitchers have not been very good versus LA's lineup:

Newcomb vs. LA▪14 IP / 8 hits / 14 SO / 6 ER (and yes he was one out from a no-hitter in one of his starts)

Sanchez vs. LA▪11.2 IP / 10 hits / 9 SO / 6 ER

Foltynewicz vs. LA▪5 IP / 6 hits / 8 SO / 4 ER

Gausman vs. LA (2016)▪7.20 ERA

Julio vs. LA (2017)▪4.76 ERA

Like I said, not good. But look, don't take me too seriously. I know this is a shitty hot take. I mean, who picks this opponent when it is quite obvious the Braves have not had any success against them. But as many of you know, this has been a magical season for the Braves. No one expected, or not many, that the Braves would be leading the division, and have a realistic shot at being the best team in the NL (winning % wise). I sure didn't. And we give Snit alot of grief, including me. He is not a modern MLB manager, and probably never will be. But, he knows his players. He isn't afraid to try and let a struggling player "figure it out". And in today's world it is refreshing to see a manager to still depend on his gut, instead of strictly basing decisions on numbers. (although I tend to trust the facts/ numbers more) So I am gonna go out on a limb and say that the Braves will "figure out" the Dodgers. And how cool would it be for the Braves to win a playoff-series against the Dodgers, after struggling against them all season??

I want Snit to snit us right over the LA Dodgers in the playoffs!

GO BRAVES!

Now, please start wearing me out with lots of critical and negative comments of my laughable opinion, lol.

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