The Atlanta Braves are rolling into Philadelphia having won six of their last seven games, and 12 of their previous 16. Despite the terrible injury luck they have been hit with, the Braves have picked up games on the Phillies in the National League East with just over a month left in the season.
Now, with the two set to face off for a four-game set this week, could the eventual postseason roster come down to this preview we see in this series?
This series won't feature Cy Young favorite Chris Sale, so this will be a great opportunity for the other rotation members, specifically the right-handers. Thursday night, Charlie Morton will get the ball before handing it off to Reynaldo Lopez Friday. The Braves will finish off with Spencer Schwellenbach on Sunday.
"Do you know what's interesting, Sandra? You look at these matchups -- and I'm not saying the Braves will definitely face the Phillies in the playoffs -- but when you look at the last couple of years and the matchups you've seen, it just feels like somewhat of a tryout for those games you might see later in the playoffs," Mike Johnson said.
There are several questions facing Brian Snitker and the Braves.
Lopez has been dealing with a tough stretch of injuries and has not been in this sort of position to this point in his career. Morton is getting up there in age and has been a bit sporadic. Then, Schwellenbach is in his first full season in the Majors.
Now facing this lineup loaded with left-handers who hit at a high level, this is a chance to see who could be the eventual guy that guy gets the start in a postseason series -- or who definitely won't.