2025 ATL Thread - Burnes to have TJ surgery

[Thunder Muscle]

100% agree. My nightmare scenario is Brewers-Cubs in a 3-6 matchup and Cubs win it. I hate the wonky best of 3 wild card round and could see Brewers pucker up in a split crowd game at AmFam.

Thankfully, the Braves just keep winning. Padres and D-Backs probably are far enough ahead that it doesn't matter.

Every time you look at the Cubs schedule, they're playing the Pirates, Nats, or Marlins.

They have one brutal week coming up and then go back to playing the minor league teams for the final 3 weeks. They were probably an 85 win team playing like a 75 win team earlier this year with bullpen issues. Now they're healthy and will make a push, but they're running out of time.

I think Cubs have like a top 10 easiest remaining schedule as of today. At least, as you said, the Braves are hot and they also have to pass the Mets too. Definitely wouldn’t hate them having a bad week and being done.

I like that MLB Central show and Crew like just get ignored in all NL Contender segments. Literally the other 5 teams all got mentioned this AM but not Milwaukee. I mean I get it…small market, band aid staff, no household names, lack of recent playoff success, etc. But also are the only team to not lose 4 in a row and record is right there with everyone else. I normally don’t get too caught up into that stuff but sometimes nice to at least be in the conversation.

[MickeyDavis]

Kershaw vs. Gallen. 8 runs in the first 2 innings

[ReasonablySober]

Everyone on the Phillies looks like a complete a*shole.

[WeekapaugGroove]

Cubs finally lose.

Sent from my SM-F731U using RealGM mobile app

[MikeIsGood]

Everyone on the Phillies looks like a complete a*shole.

Right!?

[Thunder Muscle]

The NL playoff race is shaping up to be pretty good. Mets are right there now in that battle for the last spot. San Diego I feel is the sexy team right now nationally, but really if them or Arizona skid, its not inconceivable that 1 of them could miss the playoffs if Atlanta and NY Mets finish well. Brewers will have a say in Arizona’s fate as play them 7 times yet. Cuns and Cardinals are still lurking but I don’t see them making it.

I’m not sure if there is a team I prefer to play. I feel like Atlanta may be ripe to take out with their injuries. I don’t particularly prefer to see San Diego, nor Arizona again. I’m not sure where I’m at with the Mets.

[MickeyDavis]

We get the Mets at the end of the season. That will be interesting if seeding is in play and maybe having to play them again right away.

[Thunder Muscle]

Mets do have the toughest path on paper as have 3rd hardest SOS for remaining games.

Others…

Diamondbacks 7th (Hardest)
Brewers 8th
Cubs 16th
Phillies 17th
Braves 18th
Padres 24th
Cardinals 25th
Dodgers 27th

AL is setting up to not be much of a race other than seeding. Yankees and Orioles battling for division and a bye. Cleveland has a shot to get 1 seed vs 2. Twins and Royals likely have 5/6 as Red Sox have faded back 5+ games now. Royals are cold but can’t see Boston, Detroit, Seattle, or Tampa making up 5-6 games with 20~ games to go.

[Thunder Muscle]

NL Wild Card race really tightening up. 4-7 seeds all within 2 games in loss column now. D-Backs really going to need those games vs Crew.

[Kerb Hohl]

Cubs probably saved their season with a rally last night. They are treading water in this NYY/LAD set of games before they play an easy schedule basically the rest of the way.

I think they're pretty much dead, but they are a playoff team that sabotaged themselves in the first half with **** bullpen performance. I think they're going to probably finish 13-4 or so in these last 17 games. Can they get the Braves and Mets to stay below 9 wins against a rough schedule?

[MickeyDavis]

The NL wildcard race will be fun and we will be a big factor into who makes it. But for the love of God don't give me a Cubs matchup. I don't want 60%+ Cubs fans there. Plus I hope to go to the games and I never go to Cubs games. Sure it would be sweet to eliminate Greg. But also very bitter to lose to him.

[MickeyDavis]

ESPN polled some MLB execs, scouts and players. I'm a little surprised the Brewers ranked up there as biggest threat.

Which of the clubs with the two best records is the team to beat in October?

Philadelphia Phillies -- 9
Los Angeles Dodgers -- 4

Who is the biggest threat to the Phillies and Dodgers?

San Diego Padres -- 8
Milwaukee Brewers -- 5
Baltimore Orioles -- 5
New York Yankees -- 3
Cleveland Guardians -- 3
Houston Astros -- 1

Another team mentioned by many on our panel is the Brewers, who have managed to fly under the radar for much of this season despite cruising toward a division crown. They even have an outside chance of catching Philadelphia or Los Angeles for a first-round bye.

"Milwaukee is a potential sleeper for me," one NL executive said. "I think they're a very well-rounded club from what I've seen and don't get nearly enough media attention. I think they'll be a tough out."

One pitcher from another contender agreed with that assessment of the Brewers.

"A sleeper team would be Milwaukee," said Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt, who was asked to exclude his own team. "I would say don't sleep on them. They can hit. They play really well at home. They have a good, young, fast team. And [William] Contreras is pivotal in the middle of that lineup."

Given our recent first round exits, not only do we have to get into the second round but probably have to beat both the Dodgers and Phillies just to get to the WS.

[Kerb Hohl]

ESPN polled some MLB execs, scouts and players. I'm a little surprised the Brewers ranked up there as biggest threat.

Which of the clubs with the two best records is the team to beat in October?

Philadelphia Phillies -- 9
Los Angeles Dodgers -- 4

Who is the biggest threat to the Phillies and Dodgers?

San Diego Padres -- 8
Milwaukee Brewers -- 5
Baltimore Orioles -- 5
New York Yankees -- 3
Cleveland Guardians -- 3
Houston Astros -- 1

Another team mentioned by many on our panel is the Brewers, who have managed to fly under the radar for much of this season despite cruising toward a division crown. They even have an outside chance of catching Philadelphia or Los Angeles for a first-round bye.

"Milwaukee is a potential sleeper for me," one NL executive said. "I think they're a very well-rounded club from what I've seen and don't get nearly enough media attention. I think they'll be a tough out."

One pitcher from another contender agreed with that assessment of the Brewers.

"A sleeper team would be Milwaukee," said Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt, who was asked to exclude his own team. "I would say don't sleep on them. They can hit. They play really well at home. They have a good, young, fast team. And [William] Contreras is pivotal in the middle of that lineup."

Given our recent first round exits, not only do we have to get into the second round but probably have to beat both the Dodgers and Phillies just to get to the WS.

I'm not sure I'd use recent history as a reason for playoff projections other than maybe "make up of team isn't good for MLB playoffs" sort of stuff. The MLB playoffs are a giant crapshoot.

I think the Brewers have a good shot, though the knock is always that we don't have the elite players and get by with great spreadsheet management during the season. The Dodgers have some crappy pitching right now (but more elite names)...but I'd say that's the weakness.

[MickeyDavis]

Yeah past seasons don't really matter but haven't won a playoff series since 2018 so I'm gunshy. Last year in game 1 we scored 3 runs the first 2 innings, then nothing the last 7. Game 2 we scored 2 in the first, nothing the final 8. Brutal. Our offense is better this year IMO. Our potential opponents have some damn good pitching. Someway, somehow we have to win a series.

[Kerb Hohl]

The Dodgers are bringing along a lot of their pitching very slowly from injury - but some of it won't really be back or just isn't what they were anymore.

Their pitching is relatively **** at this point.

One can hope this is their weakness in the playoffs and we can take them down. But thanks to their lineup chock full of HOF bats for outlasting the Cubs last night, pushing them one game further back before they finish the season 13-3 against a bunch of garbage teams.

[Thunder Muscle]

The schedule is interesting too. Phillies/Mets have 7 games. Mets have hardest remaining schedule. Braves/Mets have a series. Brewers/Diamondbacks play 7 times. Cubs on paper have a ton of favorable matchups. That **** 3-6 matchup is not out of the question… Still going to be tough to pass both Mets and Braves I would think…

[ReasonablySober]

Read on Twitter

Fort Myers coaches were notified by Lakeland coaches about Bender's pitch tipping following the game, sources said. Bender's willingness to tip pitches surprised Lakeland players, and there are no indications of wrongdoing from the Flying Tigers, sources said. Bender had told teammates he wanted the season to be over, according to sources.

[humanrefutation]

Read on Twitter

Fort Myers coaches were notified by Lakeland coaches about Bender's pitch tipping following the game, sources said. Bender's willingness to tip pitches surprised Lakeland players, and there are no indications of wrongdoing from the Flying Tigers, sources said. Bender had told teammates he wanted the season to be over, according to sources.

My first suspicion would be gambling but I can't imagine anyone gambling on A ball. He must have a beef with that pitcher. "Wanting the season to be over" doesn't make sense.

[humanrefutation]

Cool to see Kumar Rocker on the mound for the Rangers today.

[Iheartfootball]

Cool to see Kumar Rocker on the mound for the Rangers today.

Had never heard of him. Read up on his backstory getting to the majors. I like his approach to the game and life. I'll be rooting for him.

First player of Indian heritage to play in the majors as well, sweet!