Odds Show The Braves Are Already An October Lock
By looking at past performance, quality of competition, remaining schedule, position in the standings, and other factors, platforms such as FanGraphs have a way of calculating each team’s playoff chances.
When it comes to playoff chances, no one has a better outlook than the Atlanta Braves.
MLB insider Buster Olney, who covers all things MLB for ESPN, posted FanGraphs’ most recent NL playoff odds and the Braves are the only team at 100 percent.
In fact, they are the only team above 90 percent, for that matter.
It means that only a disaster of epic proportions would prevent the Braves from being, once again, in October.
NL playoff chances, per Fangraphs:
Braves 100%
Dodgers 88.3%
Diamondbacks 78.7%
Giants 68.2%
Marlins 64.2%
Brewers 60.2%
Phillies 55.5%
Reds 25.2%
Padres 22.2%
Mets 13.3%
Cubs 10.5%
Cardinals 9.8%
Pirates 4.0%
Nats, Rockies 0.0%— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 3, 2023
The Braves are 56-27, owners of the best record in baseball thanks to their .675 winning percentage.
The Tampa Bay Rays, with the second-best record in the league, are 57-30 with a .655 winning percentage.
Atlanta has won their last eight contests and have a +139 run differential.
They have been the best and most consistent squad in the National League.
They also hold a nine-game advantage over the second-ranked team in the NL East, the Miami Marlins.
A team that has Ronald Acuna Jr., Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, Marcell Ozuna, Orlando Arcia, Austin Riley, Michael Harris II, Sean Murphy, Spencer Strider, Bryce Elder, Charlie Morton, and other valuable contributors is unlikely to lose too many games.
The squad is not only talented at the top, but it’s also incredibly deep.
The Braves seem to have an internal solution for every key guy that gets hurt.
That’s actually what makes them great: their internal player development staff and model has proven to be successful and sustainable.
They will be, once again, in the thick of things in October.
NEXT:
The Braves Are Making Franchise History With Their All-Stars