Time is running out on these Atlanta Braves and their once-certain playoff chances. 

One week remains in the regular season and the reigning National League East Division champs (which will not happen this year) are on the cusp of not clinching a playoff spot. They have fallen out of a Wild Card spot and are poised to be sitting at home this October for the first time since 2017.

The Braves entered Friday’s game with the Marlins still two games back of the final Wild Card slot, which is currently being held by the New York Mets. The Braves’ erratic play over the last couple of weeks has put them in this position, not their slew of injuries. 

Yes, injuries have decimated this year’s Braves, but they will only have themselves to blame if a playoff berth is not realized by next weekend. Who can forget the Braves’ 6-5 loss to the Reds on Sept. 17 when the Braves blew a 5-1 lead? Or how about the Braves’ 9-2 loss to the Dodgers two nights prior when Atlanta allowed seven runs in the ninth inning? Or how about the Braves’ 1-0 loss to the Reds on Sept. 9, when Atlanta managed just two hits?

The inconsistent play led the Braves to sport mediocre records during August and September after the All-Star break. The Braves are just 9-8 in September which followed a 16-13 mark in August. What was once a foregone conclusion that the Braves make this year’s postseason is now far from a certainty.

The Braves enter this weekend needing to sweep the Marlins, the worst team in the division. It’s possible, especially considering the Dodgers just throttled the Marlins 20-4 on Thursday. 

One factor in the Braves’ favor over the final week is the upcoming schedule. The Braves will host the Mets next week. The Mets’ playoff hopes ride on their final three series, including this weekend’s slate with the division-leading Phillies and the season-ending series at the National League Central champion Milwaukee Brewers.

The Braves still have the talent and experience to be a threat once the playoffs start. They just have to get there first. At the current pace, a postseason berth is far from a guarantee. Next week will decide their fate.