ATLANTA, GA – AUGUST 12: Atlanta third base coach Tommy Watkins (84) and third baseman Austin Riley (27) celebrate Riley’s home run during the MLB game between the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves on August 12th, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Braves are 8-3 in August so far. That’s really good, and even better than when they went 22-10 through the end of April.
That sad, they have 17 more games. They need to go 20-8 to beat their through-April record, which means 12-5. That’s a tall order!
The schedule is also weird slash daunting for the rest of the month:
Diamondbacks at home (3)
Twins on road (3)
Make-up game against White Sox on road (1)
Brewers on road (3)
Dodgers at home (3)
Rockies at home (3)
Make-up against Giants at home (1)
That’s two series, back to back, against what are likely baseball’s best two teams. Plus, two make-up games, two other series against contenders, and another road set. The only reprieve is playing the Rockies at home.
Here’s a reason why the Braves probably won’t hit 20-8 and have their best month yet: if you take game-by-game odds and take the ones they’re projected to win, that’s how you get to 12-5. So, by default, adding up the individual odds will be lower (which isn’t surprising, but it is what it is). Basically, for the Braves to outdo April in August, even with their 8-3 start to the month, they’ll need to every game they’re favored in for the rest of the month. That means sweeping the Diamondbacks and Twins, taking a series from the Dodgers, and then sweeping the Rockies and taking that make-up game against the Giants. But, getting swept by the Brewers is also baked in there.
Again, a tall order. Can they do it?