Braves' history against likely postseason foes

Atlanta Braves

If the Braves maintain the top seed in the National League they will face one of two teams they have had success against in the postseason.

Since the days of Barry Bonds in Pittsburgh, the Pirates had not had a winning season until 2013. Pittsburgh's streak of 20 consecutive losing seasons through 2012 remains an all-time record for major North American professional sports. If the Braves maintain the best record in the National League they will face one of two teams they've had success against in the past in the postseason:

Braves' catcher Greg Olson blasts a two-run homer in the first inning of Game 3 of the National League Championship. Olson hit one of five Braves homers against the Pirates. The Braves scored 19 runs total in the series.

Notably, Braves starter Steve Avery tilts his head back in search of champagne as he gets sprayed by his teammates after being awarded the MVP trophy for the NLCS. Avery pitched 16-1/3 innings without allowing a run. Avery gave up nine hits and walked four while striking out 17.

The Pirates had the best record in the National League in 1991. The Braves went from last place in the National League West in 1990 to first place in the division in 1991. The 1991 NLCS went seven games. It featured three 1–0 finishes and some of the best postseason pitching on record. The Braves made their first World Series appearance since moving to Atlanta in 1966. The lost in seven games to the Minnesota Twins.

Notably, Atlanta featured largely the same lineup that had won the 1991 pennant. The teams combined for 11 home runs and 69 runs in the seven-game series.

While the Braves were playing in their second-straight NL Championship Series, the Pirates were entering their third-straight attempt to reach the World Series.

The 1992 NLCS ended in dramatic fashion, as in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7, with Atlanta down 2–1 and the bases loaded, the Braves' Francisco Cabrera cracked a two-run single that scored David Justice and Sid Bream. Bream famously slid to score the Series-winning run, beating the throw by Pirates left fielder Barry Bonds. It was the first time in baseball history that a team one out away from losing in must-win playoff game instead won on the last pitch. The Braves advanced to their second straight World Series, losing to the Minnesota Twins in six games.

In 1995, the Atlanta Braves defeated the wild card qualifier Colorado Rockies 3-1 to meet the Cincinnati Reds in the NLCS. The first two games of the series went to extra innings.

Notably, former Brave Ron Gant played against his former team with the Reds, then again the next year as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Reds offense only managed to score five runs in four games off Atlanta's pitching staff, as the Braves swept the Reds in the National League Series Championship and went on to meet the other team from Ohio in the World Series ... and the rest is history.

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Since the days of Barry Bonds in Pittsburgh, the Pirates had not had a winning season until 2013. Pittsburgh's streak of 20 consecutive losing seasons through 2012 remains an all-time record for major North American professional sports. If the Braves maintain the best record in the National League they will face one of two teams they've had success against in the past in the postseason:

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