Atlanta Braves skipper sends warning to Philadelphia Phillies amid NL East race

The Philadelphia Phillies have an impressive eight-game lead over the Atlanta Braves in the National League East. A season ago, the Phillies found themselves in a similar position to their longtime rivals.

In fact, both teams are essentially doing the opposite of what they were doing a year ago.

Philadelphia has dealt with injuries, and now the Braves have taken care of them. In the same way that Atlanta took advantage and took a lead in the division, the Phillies are doing the same thing.

Eight games seems big, and it is, but crazier things have happened. There are still over 90 games left in the season, and if they have a stretch where they go even 3-7 over a 10-game span, the Braves could be in the mix to win the division.

If things stand, Atlanta would be able to make the playoffs via the Wild Card. As baseball fans have discovered over the past few postseasons, it doesn’t matter how a team gets there. It’s all about what they do in October, and the Phillies have proven that in a big way over the past two campaigns.

However, Braves head coach Brian Snitker isn’t thinking about the Wild Card. He plans to win the division.

Snitker had the following to say, according to David O’Brien of Athleticism.

“I don’t plan on making the wild card series. We plan on winning the East.”

His team is the kind of team that could make some noise if they sneak into the playoffs. However, having to play at Citizens Bank Park and other stadiums due to lack of home field advantage poses many challenges.

There isn’t a single team in the league that wants to come to Philadelphia and play in front of the craziest fans in baseball.

Snitker made comments about the Phillies fan base in March, saying his wife would refuse to return to Citizens Bank Park.

“It’s tough out there,” Snitker said in an interview broadcast on Atlanta radio station WZGC. “And it doesn’t seem to bother them either, quite honestly. It was tough for them last year, to the point where it was worrying.

Given how he feels about the fans, the last thing Atlanta wants to face is another hostile environment in October.

Philadelphia, however, is in a great position to do just that.