In 2001, the Larry Bowa-led Phillies entered a three-game series in Atlanta against the Braves trailing by two games with six to play. A sweep of the Braves would give the Phils a one-game lead entering the final three games of the season and, after a 3-1 win in the series opener, the Phils narrowed the gap to just one game. Things were looking good!
They then lost the next two, fell behind by three with three to play and missed out on the playoffs entirely, despite winning their final three games against the Reds.
In 2018, the Gabe Kapler-led Phillies came into Atlanta for a four-game series in late September, trailing the Braves by 5½ games with 11 to play. A sweep would have brought them to within 1½ with seven to go, a tall ask but not impossible. Even winning three of four would have narrowed the gap to 3½, a long shot but still breathing.
But the Braves won all four games, the beginning of a nine-game losing streak that knocked the Phils out of the postseason picture.
In 2021, the Joe Girardi-led Phillies traveled into Atlanta trailing by 2½ games with six to play. A sweep of the three-game series would put the Phils in front of the division by half a game entering the final three games of the season.
The Braves swept the three-game series, clinching the division in the penultimate game of the series.
That time of year again
While it’s not late September, the 2024 Phillies are set to engage Atlanta in yet another pennant race battle that could determine who wins the NL East a month from now. Starting Thursday night, the red-hot Braves enter Citizens Bank Park in the position we, as Phils fans, found ourselves in those three fateful seasons – on the outside looking in, needing a huge series of victories on the road to keep our division hopes alive.
The Braves enter Philadelphia on fire. After sweeping the Twins in Minnesota, they have won 12 of their last 16 and enter the four-game series just five back. If they were to sweep the Phils, they would move to just one game behind, launching full-scale panic in the Delaware Valley. Winning the series would mean moving just three games back, no doubt also encouraging panic. Even a series split would keep hope alive for Atlanta, maintaining the gap at five games with a month to play, although it will have been a huge missed opportunity for them if they don’t do better than that.
Conversely, the Phillies can do to the Braves what the Braves have done to them so many times over the years. By playing well and either winning the series or sweeping them, the Phils can bury Atlanta where they stand and essentially lock up the division crown as the calendar hits September.
They’ll have to play a lot better against the Braves than they have so far this year. Philadelphia is 3-6 against Atlanta, losing all three series, including a three-game set last week in Atlanta that saw the Phils offense, particularly the top three hitters in the lineup, put on a pathetic showing. Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner and Bryce Harper went a combined 2-for-33 with 14 strikeouts against Braves pitching that week, a scenario that cannot repeat itself if the Phils want to put some distance between them and Atlanta.
This is a gritty, determined Braves team that is dealing with the loss of cornerstone stars Spencer Strider, Ronald Acuna, Jr., Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley. They are winning with starting pitching, solid defense, and contributions from unexpected places.
Including a former Phillies castoff.
Of course, this is the first series at home the Phillies have had against the Braves since the season opener. A lot has changed since then, and Atlanta has struggled in Philadelphia over the years, particularly in high-pressure situations.
It will be a playoff-like atmosphere at the Bank, starting tonight, for the biggest series of the season for both teams.
It’s time to bury the Braves.
