Braves, Phillies primed for another clash in NL East
NEW YORK — Ronald Acuna Jr. and the Atlanta Braves are ready for another crack at Philadelphia.
They won’t need to wait long: opening day, first pitch.
The reigning NL MVP and his Braves teammates begin their 2024 schedule right back on Friday at Citizens Bank Park, where last season ended with a painful playoff loss in Game 4 of a Division Series.
Just like the year before.
With six straight NL East titles and a 2021 World Series crown, the Braves are the class of the division. No arguing that. But the Phillies have owned them in October, reaching the past two NL Championship Series at Atlanta’s expense only to fall short of earning World Series rings.
“This is a window that we got to win in,” Philadelphia slugger Bryce Harper said at spring training in Florida. “Our ownership deserves that. Our fans deserve that.”
The recent power struggle between the teams has produced a budding rivalry. And while the surprising Marlins gave the NL East a third playoff qualifier last year, the top of the division shapes up as a two-team tussle this season.
