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Sitting a mere ten days away from their first playoff game, the owners of baseball’s best record have a serious issue. The Braves number one and three starting pitchers are on the injured list, with the latter ineligible for the NLDS roster.

That’s Max Fried and Charlie Morton, the two headlining starters from their 2021 World Series run. Fried was placed on the IL with a blister on his throwing hand, which caused him to skip a start and ultimately miss the rest of the regular season. Morton exited his September 22 start after only pitching an inning with a right index finger strain en route to the IL.

These untimely injuries have worked in tandem with a scuffling bullpen and slumping Bryce Elder to net Atlanta a 5.76 team ERA since August 31. Prior to that date, their team ERA was 3.79.

The historically great Atlanta offense has grabbed most of the headlines this season, but the Braves wouldn’t be at 101 wins (with 5 games left to play) without the consistent pitching they have gotten from Elder and Morton. Atlanta deployed a franchise record 16 different starting pitchers this season due to long IL stints by Fried and Kyle Wright.

Now, suddenly, that rug of consistency has been snatched from beneath the Braves. Elder sports a 5.26 ERA in ten starts since August 1 and has gone from a long relief option for the playoffs to possibly Atlanta’s number two NLDS starter. All too fresh in the memory of Braves fans is Fried’s illness and Strider’s oblique injury that were critical in their 2022 NLDS loss to the Phillies.

It isn’t all bad for Atlanta. MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reports that Fried is still throwing regularly with tape on his blister, allowing him to remain game ready without further agitating his blister. He cannot wear tape or a band-aid in game, as pitchers are not allowed to have anything on their throwing hand. If his blister is not healed by October 7, Spencer Strider would likely start game one of the NLDS.  That is hardly a bad choice, but Fried has been the Braves ace since 2020, and is their second most playoff experienced pitcher after Morton.

Of course, the Atlanta offense has shown time after time this season that they can win a game where the pitching struggles. Take last night, where the Braves clawed back from a 6-run deficit against the Chicago Cubs to win 7-6. Additional reason for optimism is that relievers Brad Hand, Pierce Johnson and closer Raisel Iglesias held the Cubs scoreless in innings seven, eight and nine. All three of these players figure to play an important role in Atlanta’s World Series hopes.

With a single win in the next five games, Atlanta will lock up the NL’s number one seed. Two wins will net them homefield advantage in the World Series, should they make it that far. With two more games versus the slumping Cubs and three versus the bottom-feeding Nationals, the Braves are in good position to start every playoff series at home.

Atlanta’s resilience through adversity this year has been key to their success. That resilience is one of many reasons for Braves fans to stay optimistic through their pitching issues, but nothing would be better than simply getting their rotation healthy for the playoffs.