Recent History is Not on the Atlanta Braves' Side Entering Game 4 of the NLDS
Two of MLB's three 100-win teams have already fallen, and recent history suggests the Atlanta Braves could be next.
The Braves are set to face off with the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 4 of the NLDS on Thursday, trailing 2-1 in the best-of-five series. Atlanta's Game 3 loss on Wednesday has put them on the brink of elimination – a position the club has not exactly thrived in as of late.
As noted by Jay Cuda on the social media platform formally known as Twitter, the Braves are 1-9 in their last 10 win-or-go-home playoff games. The last time they won while facing elimination was Game 3 of the 2018 NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Atlanta went on to lose that series 3-1 regardless.
Prior to the 2018 NLDS, the Braves' most recent win in a do-or-die postseason game was in Game 4 of the 2004 NLDS against the Houston Astros. Atlanta was eliminated after losing Game 5 the next day.
Just last year, the Braves were unable to force Game 5 when they trailed the Phillies 2-1 in the 2022 NLDS.
Atlanta hasn't gone from facing elimination to winning a series since the 1996 NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Braves went down 3-1 in that series, but outscored the Cardinals 32-1 in Games 5, 6 and 7 to punch their ticket to the World Series – which they would eventually lose in six games to the New York Yankees.
The Braves never faced elimination on their run to the 2021 World Series, or the 1995 World Series, for that matter.
First pitch for Game 4 is scheduled for 8:07 p.m. ET on Thursday. If the Braves manage to buck the trend and force a winner-takes-all Game 5, that matchup would start at 6:07 p.m. ET on Saturday back in Atlanta.
The winner of the series will face the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLCS.
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