September 21, 2024; Miami, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson (28) after hitting a home run in the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins at Rental Park. Celebrating with right fielder Jorge Soler (2). Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images The Atlanta Braves can punch their ticket to the playoffs by defeating the visiting Kansas City Royals on Sunday afternoon to earn a series sweep.
Atlanta (88-71) put itself in position to seal the win with a 2-1 win on Travis d'Arnaud's ninth-inning home run on Saturday. Combined with losses to the New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks, the Braves have sole possession of the National League's second wild-card spot. They are one game ahead of both teams.
A win against the Royals, or a Diamondbacks loss to San Diego, would clinch a playoff spot for Atlanta.
“It's big here. This is playoff baseball, literally,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “A lot of emotion. That's why you play this thing, to get these spots.”
The Warriors have been on a roll, winning five straight games and seven of their last eight.
Veteran right-hander Charlie Morton (8-9, 4.08 ERA), who has not pitched since Sept. 20, is scheduled to start for Atlanta on Sunday. He has a 2-2 record with a 4.15 ERA in five career starts against Kansas City.
First baseman Matt Olson had a solid September for the Braves, batting .329 in the final month of the season. His career average against Kansas City is .306, with 30 runs scored in 31 games.
The Royals (85-76) enter the final game of the regular season with a seed after clinching a playoff spot on Friday.
Kansas City trails the Detroit Tigers by one game for the American League's second wild-card spot. If the Tigers beat Atlanta, plus the Tigers lose to the Chicago White Sox, the division rivals will have the same record, but the Royals will have the advantage since they hold the tiebreaker in the series against Detroit.
Kansas City will play either Baltimore or Houston in the wild-card round starting Tuesday.
“We're trying to win,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “We have to find a way to get a couple runs out there. They (the Braves) have great pitching and it's not an easy thing to do, but that's what we have to do in the playoffs.” .
Bobby Witt Jr. will return to the Royals lineup for the finale after having his first day off of the season on Saturday.
“It's definitely bittersweet because my goal is to shoot 162,” he said. “But I also want to make sure I'm completely ready to play postseason baseball. It was my dream as a kid and now getting this opportunity, I want to be the best version of myself that I can possibly be for my team.”
Right-hander Alec Marsh (8-9, 4.65 ERA) is expected to start for Kansas City on Sunday, facing the Braves for the first time in his career.
–Scene-level media