The Braves are 8-3 in August so far. That’s really good, and even better than when they went 22-10 through the end of April.
That sad, they have 17 more games. They need to go 20-8 to beat their through-April record, which means 12-5. That’s a tall order!
The schedule is also weird slash daunting for the rest of the month:
- Diamondbacks at home (3)
- Twins on road (3)
- Make-up game against White Sox on road (1)
- Brewers on road (3)
- Dodgers at home (3)
- Rockies at home (3)
- Make-up against Giants at home (1)
That’s two series, back to back, against what are likely baseball’s best two teams. Plus, two make-up games, two other series against contenders, and another road set. The only reprieve
is playing the Rockies at home.
Here’s a reason why the Braves probably won’t hit 20-8 and have their best month yet: if you take game-by-game odds and take the ones they’re projected to win, that’s how you get to 12-5. So, by default, adding up the individual odds will be lower (which isn’t surprising, but it is what it is). Basically, for the Braves to outdo April in August, even with their 8-3 start to the month, they’ll need to every game they’re favored in for the rest of the month. That means sweeping the Diamondbacks and Twins, taking a series from the Dodgers, and then sweeping the Rockies and taking that make-up game against the Giants. But, getting swept by the Brewers is also baked in there.
Again, a tall order. Can they do it?
