Here is everything you need to know about the Atlanta Braves heading into Sunday evening.
All the Atlanta Braves do is win, win, win, no matter what, no matter if noted MLB journalists like Jeff Passan and Bob Nightengale want to deny the most painfully obvious about baseball's greatest team.
When you have ageless wonders like Charlie Morton shoving on the reg, there's not much you can do. He gets better with age as the Braves' version of Tom Brady on the mound, toeing that rubber every fifth day. You just wait until Kyle Wright makes his most triumphant return to their big-league roster. Maybe by that time, Atlanta's magic number for everything will be in single digits. That would be cool!
Behold! Enough delicious Braves rumors to sink your teeth into during the final days of the dog days.
Atlanta Braves rumors: Bob Nightengale does not know magic numbers
For those of you out there who not only like doing math but like doing math on the weekends, there is a special level of hell reserved for you. So with it being the final weekend of August, magic numbers are about to be all the rage again. Every year, we forget the formula as to how to do it. It is some combination of leading team wins and trailing team losses, but we could all use a refresher about now.
Bob Nightengale must think 12 is the number of wins the Atlanta Falcons need to win the NFC South...
As it turns out, here are what the Braves' magic numbers are as of Saturday night to win the NL East (21), make the NL postseason (16) and clinch home-field advantage throughout (31).
I wasn't spectacular at accounting at UGA, but JFC... Don't try and tell me that this wasn't more Bill Plaschke L.A. Times I am so removed from the equation buffoonery. You don't even know! For those outside of Braves Country who hate this team, it sucks to suck. Like Globo Gym, we're better than you. Average Joe's did win at the end of the day, but nobody makes me bleed my own blood, bruh!
So if you need to know what magic numbers are, ask anyone but Bob Nightengale about that jazz.
Atlanta Braves rumors: The importance of Kyle Wright's fall return
As if you needed any more proof the Braves are in a terrific position to go on another deep postseason run, Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com had Atlanta 19th of 19 possible playoff contenders in his latest list about contending teams who need guys back. Yes, the Braves could use Kyle Wright back in the rotation, but nowhere near as much as Toronto needs Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Castrovince argues that Wright's eventual return in September would be all about adding depth to the rotation, as well as taking some strain off the bullpen. Atlanta has already gotten Max Fried back from his injury. Bryce Elder and Spencer Strider were both All-Stars back in July. All the while, the ageless wonder that is Charlie Morton continues to shove on the reg. However, Atlanta needs a fifth starter...
Wright was the team's best pitcher a year ago, as he won 21 games in his true breakout season out of Vanderbilt. However, constant arm trouble has kept him out of the rotation for pretty much the entire year. He may not be back to form until 2024, but anything Wright can give the rotation now and into the postseason would be a huge plus. Heck, he could be arm to shorten games out of the bullpen.
For now, Atlanta can takes its time to ensure that when Wright gets recalled again, it will be for good.
Atlanta Braves rumors: Should Charlie Morton get his $20M team option?
Atlanta does not have a lot of areas to address after this season. There may be a player here and there the Braves need to consider re-signing in free agency, but the biggest question to answer is what about Charlie Morton? He has a team option for 2024 worth $20 million. Morton has been a sensational pitcher since his mid-30s, but the dude will be 40 years old next season. What to do?
It has to start with this, and only this: What does Morton want to do? If he wants to pitch one more season, then it should be with the Braves. I would expect general manager Alex Anthopoulos to afford Morton enough time to make a logical decision over this. If he wants to come back for one last ride, then let's do it. If not, then look for Anthopoulos to look at adding an arm in MLB free agency.
Truth be told, Morton isn't going to know what to do until after this season ends. If the Braves win the World Series, that may be it for him. It would be his third championship of his career, and his second since coming to Atlanta. Potentially leaving $20 million on the table is hard, but that is not entirely up to him. Surely, the Braves will do him right if Morton decides to ride off into the sunset as a champion.
At this cross section in time, I think it makes sense to bring back Morton for one last ride in 2024.
