MLB decided to make Braves’ NLDS schedule as difficult as possible for them
By John Buhler
If the Atlanta Braves want to repeat as World Series champions, they have to figure out how to win day games with greater regularity right now.
Despite winning 101 games on the season, the Atlanta Braves now have no choice but to figure out how to win day games.
For whatever reason, day games have been their bugaboo all season long. The Day Braves are constantly fighting the Night Braves to keep things interesting. Fate would have it, they are taking on the Philadelphia Phillies in their best-of-five NLDS. It’s always sunny in Philadelphia, especially when it comes to postseason baseball. Braves fans cannot believe what MLB did to them here…
Behold! Not a single night game for the Braves in their best-of-five NLDS series vs. the Phillies!
The Braves and Phillies will play Game 3 at 4:37 p.m. ET on Friday in Philly. Game 4 would be played at 2:07 p.m. ET on Saturday in Philly. Game 5 would be played Sunday in Atlanta at 4:37 p.m. ET
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) October 11, 2022
Atlanta Braves fans cannot believe MLB gave them only day games in the NLDS
To advance to the NLCS for the third straight October, the Braves must be champions of the sun.
- Game 1: Tuesday, Oct. 11: 1:07 p.m. ET (Atlanta)
- Game 2: Wednesday, Oct. 12: 4:35 p.m. ET (Atlanta)
- Game 3: Friday, Oct. 14: 4:37 p.m. ET (Philadelphia)
- Game 4: Saturday, Oct. 15: 2:07 p.m. ET (Philadelphia)*
- Game 5: Sunday, Oct. 16: 4:37 p.m. ET (Atlanta)*
*If necessary
Let’s be real. This was largely expected. Four of the eight teams remaining in the MLB postseason play in the western divisions (Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners). As far as the other series is concerned, MLB was always going to make the New York Yankees a primetime priority whenever it could. New York is taking on the Cleveland Guardians.
No, it’s not like the Braves won’t pack Truist Park and The Battery during day games. We should expect Philadelphia to do the same thing in Game 3, and maybe 4. Then again, those games are happening on Friday and Saturday. And should it go to a winner-take-all Game 5, of course, it will be an afternoon game back in Atlanta when both teams have to fly the night before it is played…
Ultimately, MLB baseball is a television product and it will try to space these games out as best as it can. Unfortunately, this puts teams playing in the Eastern Time Zone at a disadvantage. While the Phillies have to play up to five straight day games too, Atlanta has notoriously struggled in games before the sun goes down. The 2022 Braves have been the anti-Kirk Cousins this season.
If the Braves keep sleepwalking, it will be season over the NL East champs well before it should.
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