North Gwinnett News

Atlanta Braves legends John Smoltz, Chipper Jones and Tom Glavine came together to talk about the playoff chances for the team headed into their matchup with the Milwaukee Brewers in what is sure to be a hard-fought ALDS. 

Smoltz was particularly optimistic about the chances of the Braves, telling MLB.com, “When I look at the National League, two of the better teams [Dodgers or Giants] are going to knock themselves out one way or another. 

“L.A. and San Fran are either going to get eliminated or eliminate one or the other. If you get past Milwaukee, I think [the Braves] have better than a fighting chance; I really do. No one would have given them a chance two months ago.”

Jones said he thought Braves infielders Freddie Freeman, Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley and Dansby Swanson could all win the Silver Slugger award this year. 

"It probably won’t happen that all four of them will win, but it’s the most dynamic infield I’ve ever seen," he told MLB.com. "That’s saying something; I’ve been around the game for a long time." 

Glavine said he particularly liked the top three players in the Braves' pitching rotation, Charlie Morton, Max Fried and Ian Anderson.

"I think all of those guys are capable of going out there any given night and pitching a gem," he told MLB.com. "I think those three guys could certainly match up with anybody. When you have three guys like that in the rotation, that's a huge luxury.”

The Braves are going into the playoffs more confident than ever. They had a red hot month of August en route to the team's fourth straight NL East title and are led by 2020 NL MVP first baseman Freddie Freeman. The team committed to playoff fight before the trade deadline, trading for Adam Duvall, Jorge Soler, and Eddie Rosario to give the lineup more power. 

The Brewers, for their part, figure to be a tough opponent. They are led by their All-Star pitching rotation, which includes Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, and Freddy Peralta.