HOUSTON -- The Braves are going back to the postseason for the eighth time in the past nine years.
Atlanta clinched a postseason berth with a win over the Astros on Friday. Now, the Braves can set their sights on clinching the National League East, something they could do as early as Sunday.
As things currently stand, the Braves would enter the playoffs as the NL’s No. 3 seed. But there’s still a chance for them to gain the No. 2 seed, which would allow them to avoid the NL Wild Card Series and advance directly to the NL Division Series.
Here’s a look at what’s next:
What might the postseason roster look like?
Let’s base this prediction on the Braves playing in the best-of-three NL Wild Card Series for now, which is played over three straight days and begins Sept. 29, two days after the regular season concludes. If they were to participate in the best-of-five NL Division Series, which includes two off-days and begins on Oct. 3, the roster construction, namely the pitching staff composition, could look different.
C: Drake Baldwin, Sean Murphy, Chuckie Robinson
1B: Matt Olson
2B: Ozzie Albies
SS: Mauricio Dubón, Ha-Seong Kim
3B: Austin Riley
LF: Mike Yastrzemski, Brewer Hicklen, DaShawn Keirsey Jr.
CF: Michael Harris II
RF: Ronald Acuña Jr.
SPs: Chris Sale, Tyler Mahle, Martín Pérez
RPs: Raisel Iglesias, Robert Suarez, Didier Fuentes, Dylan Lee, Dylan Dodd, Grant Holmes, AJ Smith-Shawver, Victor Mederos, Ray Kerr, Brent Suter
What are the options?
Keirsey would be the primary option to come off the bench as a pinch-runner.
Hicklen gets the nod as a backup outfielder, with Lane Thomas expected to miss the Wild Card Series while recovering from a strained left intercostal muscle. While Thomas is sidelined, Dubón could play left field against left-handed starters. This would open the door for Kim to get a start at the shortstop position.
With Drake Baldwin frequently serving as the designated hitter, the Braves will likely carry a third catcher. Kyle Farmer has recently served as the team’s emergency catcher. But Robinson or another Triple-A catcher seems like the likelier option to serve as a third catcher.
Depending on the opponent, the Braves could opt to have Holmes start Game 3 instead of Pérez. As for Smith-Shawver, he showed enough in an appearance on Monday to earn the chance to be either a one-inning or multi-inning relief option.
Suarez hasn’t pitched since his right elbow began bothering him after a June 19 appearance. There’s still hope he’ll be ready for the start of the postseason.
What is the postseason schedule?
Click here for MLB’s full postseason schedule.
The NL Wild Card Series begins on Tuesday, Sept. 29, and the NLDS begins on Saturday, Oct. 3.
Will they get a first-round bye?
The Braves own the tiebreaker over the Dodgers, but they are four games behind the two-time defending World Series champions in the battle for the second of the NL’s two first-round byes.
Who will they face?
If the Braves maintain their current position and enter the postseason as the NL’s No. 3 seed, they would host the No. 6 seed in the NL Wild Card Series. Each of the three games would be played at Truist Park.
The Padres are currently the No. 6 seed, but they are tied with the Phillies and Cubs at 85-69. Seeding could shuffle over the season’s final week. The D-backs are also still mathematically in the mix for one of the NL’s three Wild Card spots.
How could they line up their rotation for the first series?
Chris Sale would start Game 1 of the Wild Card Series. Tyler Mahle’s great success since being acquired from the Giants has made him the obvious choice for the Game 2 start. The opponent could influence whether Pérez or Holmes is chosen to start Game 3.
What is the Braves’ most recent postseason history?
The Braves were eliminated in the NLDS in both 2018 and '19. When they advanced to the 2020 NLCS, it marked the first time since '01 they had advanced past the NLDS. They haven’t won a playoff series in any of the three postseason trips they’ve made since winning the 2021 World Series.