Madness undoubtedly on deck for Braves in final weekend

This story was excerpted from Mark Bowman's Braves Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

ATLANTA -- September madness brings October gladness. Full disclosure, I got this job after Hallmark rejected me.

Madness is certainly what awaits us as we enter the regular season’s final weekend knowing there’s a strong chance the Braves and Mets will play a doubleheader on Monday to decide which team gets the National League’s final Wild Card spot. The only way this might not happen would be if the D-backs fall out of the race during this weekend’s series against the Padres.

How crazy might this weekend be? Well, Braves manager Brian Snitker made a good point Wednesday afternoon when he pointed out Hurricane Helene might make it difficult for the Royals to fly from Washington D.C. to Atlanta Thursday night.

Fortunately, the Mets were able to fly from Atlanta to Milwaukee Thursday morning. They may return to Georgia late Sunday night and then possibly return to Milwaukee late Monday night to prepare for a Wild Card Series.

This weekend’s optimal development for the Braves would be to win enough games to eliminate any need to play Monday’s doubleheader. Possible? Yes. Likely? Probably not, especially after the D-backs beat the Giants on Wednesday and moved even with the Mets, one game ahead of the Braves in the battle for the final two Wild Card spots.

As my MLB.com colleague Anthony DiComo said Wednesday, “Embrace the Chaos.”

Speaking of chaos, how would you like to plan your rotation knowing you may have to play five games in four days and then immediately begin a three-game Wild Card Series, which has no scheduled off-days, on the fifth day?

Well, the Braves are literally going day to day with their decisions being based on the results of each game that impacts their status. My assumption was they would go with Chris Sale on Friday to ensure he could also be ready to start Game 2 of the best-of-three Wild Card series on Wednesday. But because Max Fried doesn’t handle extra off-days as well as Sale, he’ll get the ball for the series opener against the Royals.

As for Sale, he’s being saved until the Braves are facing elimination. If Friday’s combination of results create a must-win situation on Saturday, then the Cy Young favorite will pitch that night. The same would go for the following two days.

The unknown factor in this situation is Reynaldo López, who seems destined to come off the injured list to start any of the four games played from Saturday to Monday. López might only be capable of going three or four innings. But if he gets through that outing successfully and Atlanta reaches the postseason, then he might get a chance to add to the splendor of his first season with the club.

The Braves will also have to decide when to use Spencer Schwellenbach, who has a 1.79 ERA in seven starts against the NL’s top six teams this year. Schwellenbach could be used on regular rest on Sunday, or he could pitch Monday against the Mets, who have scored one run in 14 innings against him this year.

Who would start Tuesday’s Game 1 of the Wild Card Series if the Braves need to start Fried, Sale, Schwellenbach, López and Charlie Morton over the next four days? The current dilemma is recognized. But for now, the Braves can only focus on doing whatever it takes to make it to the playoffs.