Already, the ebbs and flows of the schedule have had big impacts on the National League East standings.
The Mets plummeted from first place when they went 2-11 in a 13-game stretch last month against the NL’s two best teams (Dodgers and Giants). The Braves surged into first place and built a five-game lead during a 9-0 road trip against three struggling teams (Nationals, Marlins and Orioles). Then the Braves’ lead was reduced to 1-1/2 games when they went 2-6 in a stretch of games against three elite teams (Yankees, Giants and Dodgers) as the Phillies put together a six-game win streak against two lowly teams (Diamondbacks and Nationals).
Here’s a look at how the remaining schedules for each of the NL East contenders -- the first-place Braves, second-place Phillies and third-place Mets -- could influence the division race down the stretch from Labor Day weekend through the end of the regular season Oct. 3:
BRAVES
Games remaining: 30 entering play Thursday (16 home and 14 road).
Games remaining against winning teams: 10 (including completion of a suspended game against San Diego).
Strength of schedule: The Braves’ remaining schedule, with an opponents’ winning percentage of .469, is the third-easiest among the 30 MLB teams, according to calculations by the website Tankathon.com. But it’s more difficult than the Phillies’ remaining schedule.
This weekend: The Braves complete their next-to-last trip of the season with a compelling four-game series at Colorado that runs through Sunday. While the Rockies have a losing overall record (61-72 through Wednesday), they have the NL’s second-best record at home (43-22, behind only the Dodgers).
Then what: The Braves have a nine-game homestand Sept. 7-16 against three losing teams (Nationals, Marlins and the awful-on-the-road Rockies). That’s followed by another trip out West that includes three tough games at San Francisco, four games at Arizona (which has the NL’s worst record) and four at San Diego (including the completion of the suspended seven-inning home game that the Braves trail 5-4 in the fifth inning). Then the regular season ends with an appropriate homestand against the Phillies and Mets, the NL East championship potentially on the line at Truist Park.
PHILLIES
Games remaining: 29 (14 home and 15 road).
Games remaining against winning teams: 6.
Strength of schedule: The Phillies have the easiest remaining schedule in MLB, according to Tankathon, with an opponents’ winning percentage of .445.
This weekend: The Phillies, whose winning streak reached six games when they overcame a 6-0 deficit to beat the Nationals on Thursday afternoon, continue a friendly stretch of schedule with a three-game series at Miami beginning Friday.
Then what: The Phillies’ schedule stiffens briefly early next week with three games at NL Central leader Milwaukee, but that’s the last currently-above-.500 team they’ll face until visiting Truist Park at the end of the month. They should benefit from a seven-game homestand against the Orioles and Pirates, two of MLB’s worst teams, immediately before coming to Atlanta.
METS
Games remaining: 30 entering play Thursday (14 home and 16 road).
Games remaining against winning teams: 17.
Strength of schedule: Clearly the most challenging of the NL East contenders, the Mets’ remaining schedule ranks 17th among the 30 MLB teams in difficulty.
This weekend: The Mets, five games behind the Braves before Thursday night’s games, begin a five-game series at Washington on Friday.
Then what: The Mets go from Washington to Miami, matching the first two stops on the Braves’ 9-0 trip. But after leaving Miami, six of the Mets’ final seven series will come against teams that currently have winning records: the Yankees, Cardinals, Phillies, Red Sox, Brewers and Braves.
