One of the most consistent franchises in Major League Baseball (MLB), the Atlanta Braves made the playoffs in 14 consecutive seasons from 1991 to 2005--the longest streak in MLB history--and appeared in a record eight consecutive League Championship Series. Atlanta missed the playoffs four consecutive seasons from 2006 to 2009 but has since made the postseason in seven of 12 seasons.
The Braves lost in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) in 2020 but made the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year in 2021. Winning the team's first World Series since 1995 and for the fourth time in franchise history, the Braves defeated the Houston Astros in six games.
1. Fewest Regular Season Wins among Playoff Teams
Except for the Braves, every team that qualified for the MLB playoffs had at least 90 wins. Atlanta finished the season with just 88 wins, which was not only the fewest among all contenders but also the least amount of wins in a full 162-game season for a Braves playoff team since 2001.
2. Missing Its Best Offensive Player
Ronald Acuna Jr., a 23-year-old outfielder from Venezuela, played only 82 games this season and had 24 home runs, 52 RBI, and a career-best .990 OPS. However, he tore his ACL in July and was subsequently ruled out for the remainder of the season.
3. The Revival of Jorge Soler
Atlanta acquired Soler from the Kansas City Royals on July 30. He played 55 regular-season games in Atlanta and recorded a .269 batting average in addition to 14 home runs and 33 RBI. He hit three home runs in the World Series and became the second player from Cuba to be named World Series MVP.
4. Improved Bullpen
The team's bullpen had a combined 4.58 ERA before the All-Star break compared to a 3.24 ERA in the second half of the season. Atlanta's closer, Will Smith, recorded 37 saves and didn't allow a single earned run through 11 playoff innings.
5. GM Was Forced to Watch at Home
Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos was unable to attend the team's Game 6 victory in Houston as he previously tested positive for COVID-19. He watched the game at home with his family.