Braves MLB playoff picture: Updated standings, schedule, scenarios for Atlanta to make 2024 MLB postseason

To call the Braves’ 2024 season rocky might be an understatement.

Atlanta suffered massive setbacks when Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuna Jr. suffered season-ending injuries in the first half, and extended absences by Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies didn’t help matters. 

Aside from Marcell Ozuna, the Braves’ offense just hasn’t looked anything like it did last season. Riley struggled out of the gate, as did Acuna before the injury. Michael Harris II and Sean Murphy have also had a hard time replicating their 2023 production.

With Matt Olson heating up and Chris Sale barreling toward a Cy Young Award to cap his resurgent season, however, the Braves are hoping they can get hot at the right time just as they did in 2021.

Is a return to the postseason likely? Here’s a look at where the Braves stand in the NL wild-card picture at this point.

MORE: Updated MLB standings, magic numbers

Braves updated MLB playoff picture, standingsThe Braves (83-70) sit two games out of a wild-card spot in the National League, trailing the Padres, Diamondbacks and Mets.

Here are the latest wild-card standings: Standings updated after Atlanta’s game on Sept. 19.

NL wild-card standings

WC1: Padres, 87-66 (.569), +2.0 GBWC2: Mets, 85-68 (.556)WC3: Diamondbacks, 85-68 (.556)—

Braves, 83-70 (.539) 2.0 GBCubs, 78-75 (.510), 7.0 GBCardinals, 77-76 (.503), 8.0 GBGiants, 74-79 (.484), ELIMINATEDReds, 74-80 (.481),  ELIMINATEDPirates, 72-81 (.471), ELIMINATEDNationals, 68-85 (.444), ELIMINATEDRockies, 59-94 (.386), ELIMINATEDMarlins, 56-97 (.366), ELIMINATEDThe Braves still control their fate despite sitting on the outside looking in. Atlanta hosts the Mets in a three-game series to start the final week of the season, giving the team an opportunity to quickly gain ground on New York. 

Also helpful for the Braves is the fact they are chasing two teams that are well within reach. The Mets entered Thursday with the same record as the Diamondbacks, so a slip-up by either team could be enough to swing the door wide open for Atlanta.

If the MLB season ended todayThe Braves would miss the postseason for the first time since 2017 if the season ended today. 

MORE: Why insider says Braves’ Chris Sale trade was ‘move of the year’

Braves remaining scheduleThe Red Sox close their season against the Twins, Blue Jays, and Rays after wrapping up a road series in Tampa. 

DateOpponentTime (ET)Sept. 20at Marlins7:10 p.m.Sept. 21at Marlins4:10 p.m.Sept. 22at Marlins1:40 p.m.Sept. 24vs. Mets7:20 p.m.Sept. 25vs. Mets7:20 p.m.Sept. 26vs. Mets7:20 p.m.Sept. 27vs. Royals7:20 p.m.Sept. 28vs. Royals7:20 p.m.Sept. 29vs. Royals3:20 p.m. Braves MLB magic numberA magic number is the number of wins (by the leading team) and/or losses (by the trailing team) needed for a team to clinch a particular race. Because the Braves aren’t currently in a postseason spot, they don’t have a magic number.

Atlanta does have an elimination number, which is the number of Braves losses and/or wins by the team with the final wild-card spot required before the team is eliminated.

The Red Sox’s elimination number is currently eight. Because the Mets are currently in the AL’s final wild-card spot, that means Mets wins and Braves losses can’t add up to more than nine the rest of the way if Atlanta wants to make the postseason, though that can change if the Braves or even the Padres drop into the final wild-card spot.

MLB playoff tiebreakersThe expanded postseason format introduced in 2022 eliminated tiebreaker games, which were known as “Game 163.” Instead, head-to-head tiebreakers are simply determined by head-to-head record. 

If the record is even, the next tiebreaker is record within each team’s division — even if they’re in separate divisions. If that also fails to break the stalemate, the next tiebreaker is record within the league (American or National). 

The process is a bit more complicated for three-team ties. If one team has a winning record against each of the other teams, that team wins the tiebreaker. If two teams have an identical record against each other but both have a better record against the third team, the third team is out and the head-to-head process would be used to split the remaining two teams. 

Some tiebreakers won’t be determined until more games are played. For example, the Mets and Braves are currently even in their season series at 5-5 and play during the final week of the regular season. The winner of that series is guaranteed to hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.