2019 MLB season: who has the easiest September schedule?
By Bill Felber
2019 MLB Season: Easiest September Schedule
NL East
As of Thursday, the Atlanta Braves hold a five and one-half game lead on Washington, with Philadelphia and New York trailing by double digits.
The Braves’ chances of retaining that lead are enhanced by their September schedule, which is actually slightly easier than even the Brewers. The biggest challenge is a seven-game head-to-head stretch against the Nationals, giving Washington a fighting chance to make up the current difference.
Beyond that, though, the advantages all swing to the Braves. They have eight games remaining against sub-.500 teams; the Nationals have just four. They also have three games against the Mets, a team barely above .500 thus far that the Braves have dominated to date, winning 11 of 16.
Perhaps Atlanta’s largest advantage lays in its remaining inter-league schedule. As of Sept. 1, the Braves will have five games left against American League teams: one with the White Sox, two with Toronto and two with Kansas City. The Nationals face two remaining American League teams…and they are the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians. Both are deeply enmeshed in both the AL Central and wild card races. They also must navigate a three-game series against the NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals.
The Braves’ September opponents have a collective .476 winning percentage. Washington’s September opponents have a .537 winning percentage.