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3 reasons the Atlanta Braves can’t afford to lose the NL East

By Kevin Henry

Sep 3, 2022; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves center fielder Michael Harris II (23) reacts after hitting a double against the Miami Marlins in the second inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Larry Robinson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2022; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves center fielder Michael Harris II (23) reacts after hitting a double against the Miami Marlins in the second inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Larry Robinson-USA TODAY Sports /
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SAN DIEGO, CA – AUGUST 9: Juan Soto #22 of the San Diego Padres hits a home run in the fourth inning against the San Francisco Giants at PETCO Park on August 9, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) /

Why Braves must win NL East: Avoid the Padres

There’s another California team that the Braves would likely not want to see early in the postseason, and that’s the San Diego Padres. Currently sitting as the 5 seed, the Padres and Braves would be matched up in Atlanta (if the season ended today) in the Wild Card round if the Braves were to not win the division.

Entering their off day on Monday, San Diego has finally found a bit of a groove with Juan Soto in the lineup. It took a while for Soto to adjust to a San Diego uniform, but the Padres are 7-3 in their last 10 games and the prized acquisition of the 2022 MLB trade deadline has slashed .302/.455/.535 over his last 12 games (55 at-bats) with a pair of homers and nine RBI.

The Padres are heating up, and it’s a different San Diego team than the one that came to Atlanta in mid-May and took two of three games from the Braves, outscoring them 23-15 in the process. Atlanta also lost the season series to San Diego (4-3), and the Padres have retooled their lineup since then in a dramatic way.

By winning the division, the Braves gain a number of advantages over their fate if they have to advance through the Wild Card round. Avoiding two stalwarts from the NL West in the first two rounds of the postseason ranks high on the advantage list.

Next. Where the Braves land in our most recent Power Rankings. dark

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