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Braves Aim for Wild-Card Berth in Season Finale Against Royals
The Atlanta Braves are on the brink of clinching a postseason berth as they face the Kansas City Royals in a crucial regular-season finale at Truist Park on Sunday afternoon. With a win, the Braves (88-71) can complete a three-game sweep of the Royals and guarantee themselves a spot in the National League (NL) Wild-Card.
Thanks to Travis d’Arnaud’s walk-off home run in the ninth inning on Saturday, the Braves managed a 2-1 win over Kansas City. That victory, combined with losses by both the New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks, vaulted Atlanta into sole possession of the second NL wild-card spot. Now, they lead both teams by a single game, and a win on Sunday or a Diamondbacks loss would officially send the Braves to the postseason.
Braves Look to Continue Winning Streak
The Braves have been riding a hot streak, winning five consecutive games and seven of their past eight. Their ability to grind out a win was on full display Saturday, as they narrowly edged Kansas City in a tightly contested game.
“This is big here. This is playoff baseball, literally. A lot of emotions. That’s why you play this thing, to get in these positions,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker on the importance of playing in high-stakes situations.
Veteran right-hander Charlie Morton (8-9, 4.08 ERA) will be taking the mound for Atlanta on Sunday. With some extra rest since his last start on September 20, Morton is ready for this crucial outing. In his career, Morton has faced the Royals five times, going 2-2 with a 4.15 ERA. He will be pivotal in the Braves’ quest to secure a playoff spot and finish the regular season strong.
Key Player: Matt Olson
Matt Olson has been an anchor in the Braves’ lineup, especially as they push towards the postseason. He’s batting .329 in September and has consistently delivered in key moments. Against the Royals, Olson has been historically dominant, posting a .306 career average with 30 RBIs in 31 games. Atlanta will need Olson’s reliable bat to continue producing if they want to seal their playoff destiny.
Royals Eye Playoff Seeding
The Kansas City Royals (85-76) have already clinched their spot in the postseason, having done so on Friday night. However, they still have an incentive to play hard—they want to improve their seeding heading into the American League (AL) Wild-Card round. The Royals are trailing the Detroit Tigers by just one game for the second AL wild-card berth. A win on Sunday, combined with a Tigers loss to the Chicago White Sox, would give Kansas City an advantage due to their tiebreaker over Detroit.
The Royals will face either the Baltimore Orioles or the Houston Astros in the wild-card round starting Tuesday. Manager Matt Quatraro stressed the importance of staying sharp: “We’re trying to win. We’ve got to find a way to scratch out a couple of runs there. They (the Braves) have great pitching, and that’s not an easy thing to do, but that’s what we’re going to have to do in the playoffs.”
Return of Bobby Witt Jr.
The Royals will be boosted by the return of Bobby Witt Jr., who had his first day off of the season on Saturday. Witt has been a cornerstone for Kansas City all year, and he’s excited to be back just in time for the playoffs. “It’s bittersweet, for sure, because a goal of mine was to play 162,” Witt said. “But I also want to make sure I’m fully ready to go for postseason baseball. That’s something I dreamt about as a kid, and getting this opportunity now, I want to be the best version of myself I could possibly be for my team.”
Right-hander Alec Marsh (8-9, 4.65 ERA) will take the ball for the Royals. This will be his first career start against the Braves, and Kansas City will look to him to close out the regular season with a win and potentially enhance their wild-card seeding.
What’s at Stake?
For the Braves, a win guarantees them a place in the postseason. They’ve been one of the hottest teams in baseball over the past week, and with Charlie Morton set to pitch, Atlanta will rely on his experience in high-pressure situations to deliver when it matters most.
The Royals, meanwhile, are looking to finish the season strong. With Bobby Witt Jr. back in action and Alec Marsh on the mound, Kansas City is hoping to spoil the Braves’ plans while putting themselves in the best position possible for their own playoff run.
Conclusion
The stakes couldn’t be higher for the Atlanta Braves as they look to clinch a postseason spot in front of their home crowd. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Royals are hoping to finish the season strong and possibly improve their playoff position. With Charlie Morton and Alec Marsh set to face off, it promises to be an exciting conclusion to the regular season, with both teams having plenty to play for.
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Key Players to Watch
- Matt Olson (Braves): Olson’s bat has been on fire in September, and the Braves need him to step up once more to secure their postseason spot.
- Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals): After taking a rare day off, Witt returns to make an impact and help the Royals finish the season on a high note.
Will the Braves complete the sweep and secure their place in the postseason, or will the Royals play spoiler and potentially improve their playoff seeding? All eyes will be on Truist Park this Sunday afternoon as the 2024 MLB regular season comes to a close.
