#16

Games left against teams with winning records:

Braves: 16 (3 home/away with WAS, 3 at PIT, 3 home vs LA, 4 at SF)

Reds: 21 (3 home/away with STL, 6 home/3 away with PIT, 3 at ARI, 3 vs. LA)

Nationals: 22 (3 home/away with ATL, 4 home/3 away with STL, 3 vs LA, 3 at SF, ARI)

Pirates: 26 (4 atARI, 4 vs LA, 3 home/away with STL, 6 away/3 home with CIN, 3 vs ATL)

Giants: 29 (4 vs ATL, 4 at STL, 6 away/3 home with LA, 6 home/3 away with ARI, 3 vs. WAS)

Cardinals: 30 (4 vs SF, 3 vs ARI, 3 home/away with PIT/CIN,  4 away/3 home with WAS, 4 at LA)

Dodgers: 35 (7 home/2 away with ARI, 4 at PIT, 3 at ATL/WAS/CIN, 6 home/3 away with SF, 4 vs STL)

Teams the Braves need to lose:

1.  Nationals. The new wildcard playoff gives great emphasis to teams winning divisions (one less round to lose in) While in prior years Wild Card teams could coast, the Braves must do everything possible to catch Washington. It won’t be easy- the Nats load up on the Mets/Marlins/Phillies like the Braves- but it can be done.

2.  Dodgers. Biggest competition for the final wildcard spot. Them having more than twice as many tough games left is a blessing.

3. Cardinals. Same as the Dodgers, just a little bit further back. As we know, never count them out.

4. Pirates. The last series of the year, 3 in Pittsburgh looked like an easy opportunity to pick up three gimme wins to end the season. Now it’s looking like one of the most intriguing series of the entire baseball calendar. If the playoff started today, they’d being the way the regular season ended, with the Braves at the Pirates. If we have to settle for the wildcard, we would at least want the play-in game in Atlanta.

5. Reds/Giants. Standings fluctuate. It’s very possible we could be chasing them for wild card spots.

6.Phillies. I’m not counting them dead until they’re mathematically eliminated. Also it’s fun to see them lose