When the Atlanta Braves became the first team to punch their ticket to the 2023 postseason with a win Sunday over the Pirates, the celebration was subdued. Manager Brian Snitker spoke a little, and then the players toasted one another with champagne.
There were a couple of reasons for this. First, they had to play a doubleheader the following day in Philadelphia, with players expected to be at the ballpark around 10 a.m. Second, and more saliently, the specific achievement was that they were mathematically assured at least a wild-card berth — but the Braves had seemed bound for a division title for months.