DEJA VU?

Evan Davis

The Atlanta Braves and New York Mets are currently in a dog fight for the NL East Division title as the two teams are separated by just a game. This reminds me a lot of the dog fight last year between the Dodgers and Giants, who were separated by a game until the very end.

As a selfish Dodgers fan, I hope to god that the Braves and Mets continue this dog fight to the end, because it means the starters have to play until the very end. This was a huge disadvantage to the Dodgers last year, as they lost Max Muncy to a torn UCL in the last game of the regular season and Max Scherzer was experiencing pain during the postseason. If you noticed last season, the Braves had a sizable lead in the division throughout the entire season that allowed for them to rest their star players en route to a World Series title.

The Dodgers and Braves have essentially switched boats, with the Dodgers up 21 games on the second place San Diego Padres as well as clinching the division last week. This allows for them, like the Braves, to rest up their rotation and starters.

The road ahead for both the Mets and Braves is not too difficult, but the two meet for a huge three game series that begins September 30th in Atlanta. If I had to argue which team I am more concerned about, it’s the New York Mets, specifically Jacob DeGrom and Max Scherzer.

Both of these pitchers have experienced injuries this season, with Scherzer just recently coming off the 15 Day IL list. On the flip side, the Braves also don’t want to tire out their arms (i.e. Spencer Strider, Max Fried, Charlie Morton and Kyle Wright).

But for both teams, the cause for concern is the fact that any significant injury can happen in a matter of notice and these teams can’t afford to bench star talent with the division being this tight. They don’t have the same luxury that teams like the Astros and Dodgers do, who get to kick back and give their guys days off periodically throughout the rest of the season. With Ozzie Albies out for the Braves right now, they can’t afford to lose another key piece.

I’m excited for what’s to come of the NL East, especially given the fact that my team is not involved in a “dog fight” this time. Players are gonna have to play more games than they would have hoped to, but sometimes that’s just how the cookie crumbles.