MLB Playoffs: Ranking the Potential 1st-Round Opponents for the Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves are essentially out of the NL East due to the Phillies' posting the best record in not only the NL but in the entire MLB.

Having said this, the Braves have a healthy lead in the wild-card race as they are six games up on the defending world champions, the San Francisco Giants.

With the playoffs creeping up quickly, these will be the most anticipated potential first-round opponents for the Braves.

4. Philidelphia Phillies

This first round matchup simply will not happen according to current MLB postseason rules.

The wild-card team cannot play a team within their own division, so the Phillies are out of the question.

However, this matchup would be one of the premier first-round matchups in all of the postseason as the two teams with the top records in the NL would square off right off the bat.

The Phillies-Braves rivalry would be a huge selling point for the postseason, but it looks as though the only way this matchup will happen is if the Braves and Phillies both advance past the first round.

3. San Francisco Giants

The Giants are currently second within their own division. They are 2.5 games back in the NL West to the surging Arizona Diamondbacks, and even if they were to win the division, they would most likely face the Phillies in the first round of the playoffs.

Last season, the Giants won the World Series and were expected to run away with the division this year, especially after they traded for slugger Carlos Beltran. However, the Diamondbacks are not going to make the comeback easy for the Giants.

A first-round matchup with the Giants would also be a premier first-round matchup, but this matchup probably will not happen.

2. Arizona Diamondbacks

Aside from the Indians of the American League, the Diamondbacks are the true Cinderella story of this MLB season.

They currently have the lead in the NL West, and if the playoffs were to start today, they would have a first-round matchup against the Phillies.

The Diamondbacks are a young and upcoming team lead by NL MVP candidate Justin Upton. He has posted some of the best numbers of his career this year and is currently leading his team past the Giants.

The D-backs do not seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

1. Milwuakee Brewers

Ever since the NL Central was a jumbled mess at the All-Star break, the Brewers have run away with the division, winning 18 out of their last 20 games.

Zach Greinke is leading the pitching staff, while sluggers Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun have had good seasons as well.

If the playoffs were to start today, the Braves would play the Brewers in the first round of the playoffs.

This is going to be a tough first round for the Braves to get past, and if they do win, the Phillies will most likely await them in the second round.

If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best.