For many weeks, this series has been circled on the Braves’ schedule.
It arrived Thursday and continues through the weekend: the Braves vs. the Philadelphia Phillies at SunTrust Park in a late-season collision of the top two teams in the National League East.
“We understand and are fully aware of the implications this series holds,” Braves catcher Kurt Suzuki said. “This is what you work for. You work to play these games in September. You look forward to it and try to embrace the situation.”
The first-place Braves reached this series – their last of the regular season at home -- with a lead of 5-1/2 games over the second-place Phillies. If the Braves win three of four games in the series, they will eliminate the Phillies and, provided third-place Washington loses at least once, clinch their first division title since 2013. If the Phillies win or split the series, they will stay alive in the division race into next week.
“It’s a huge series for the team and a huge series for the fans,” Braves third baseman Johan Camargo said through an interpreter.
Thursday’s series opener will be followed by games Friday night, Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon.
“We’ve been working for this for a long time,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “This is fun, especially with where we’ve been the last few years.”
Both the Braves and the Phillies lost 90 or more games each of the past three seasons. Last season, these teams finished a combined 56 games out of first place – the Braves 25 out and the Phillies 31.
“If you had told us at the end of March this is where we would be today, we’d have taken it 100 times over,” Snitker said of his team. “There has been a lot of hard work … to put us in this position.”
“We’re in a good spot, a great place,” shortstop Dansby Swanson said. “... This is kind of like what you prepare for your whole life. Even when you’re a little kid, this is what you get ready for, so why not take advantage of it while it’s here?”
