Braves fans: do you realize how big tonight’s game is?

[Black Diamond Vol]

The new playoff format has really made winning the division important again. Whichever team wins the East will get a first round bye in the playoffs and would avoid facing the Dodgers at least until the NLCS. But the wild card would get just one day off after the final regular season game, then host a 3 game WC series (probably vs the Padres). Win that one, then they’d face the Dodgers in the divisional series (with their top starting pitchers likely unavailable for the first couple games). THEN they’d face the East Champ/Cardinals winner in the LCS. If that’s not an impossible road to the WS, it is at the least very, very difficult.

And here’s the thing: the sole tiebreaker for the division is head to head record, which for the Braves and Mets currently stands dead even. So whoever wins tonight claims the tiebreaker, and essentially an extra game in the standings. So if the Braves win, they would have a two game lead with three to play, and the tiebreaker in hand. Any Braves win next week (vs Miami) OR Mets loss (vs Wash) and it’s over. But if the Mets win tonight, the division will be “tied”, but they will hold the tiebreaker. So the Braves would have win at least one more game than them next week, and that’s unlikely.

As regular season games go, this is about as big as it gets. We’ve already knocked off their two aces the past two nights, so a letdown now would truly suck.

[Coupe De VOL]

Yep, as big as it gets .... HUGE game.  Tonight at 7 on the Evil Empire of Dizzney.  Must See TV.  Go Braves!!!

[SmokeyJoe]

I hardly pay attention to regular season baseball, but I will watch this one. Thanks for the heads up. I do enjoy playoff baseball. That time of year. 

[droner]

You never know what you're going to get with Charlie Morton who starts tonight.

They just signed him for another year at 20 million. I don't know if I would have gone that way. He is approaching 40 and he has been inconsistent this year.

[Black Diamond Vol]

You never know what you're going to get with Charlie Morton who starts tonight.

They just signed him for another year at 20 million. I don't know if I would have gone that way. He is approaching 40 and he has been inconsistent this year.

Yeah. I’d feel a lot better about it if Strider were healthy and starting.

I recently read a bombshell of a free agency rumor concerning the Braves and Jacob DeGrom, but maybe the Morton signing puts that to rest. Dammit.

[droner]

The Mets are teeing off on Morton. 

[Black Diamond Vol]

The Mets are teeing off on Morton. 

Now their guy has lost the strike zone. If this becomes a battle of bullpens, I like our chances. Until the 9th. Better have a big lead by then.

[droner]

Sweep!

Jansen didn't allow a baserunner. 

[Black Diamond Vol]

Sweep!

Jansen didn't allow a baserunner. 

I hope all the Mets' unused champagne survives the flight home.

[BanditVol]

I hope all the Mets' unused champagne survives the flight home.

They will just put it on ice for the playoffs.  They will almost certainly be a wild card, but will have home advantage in the first round.