The Atlanta Braves are running away with the National League East Division.
Their closest rival, the Philadelphia Phillies, have been hovering around 8 games behind the Braves.
The defending World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers may have to relinquish their title to the surging Atlanta Braves.
The Braves success has been the result of excellent hitting, good pitching, solid defense, and the July 27 return of Ronald Acuna Jr. from his hamstring injury.
Acuna Jr. missed 38 games, and his return lengthens an already solid lineup.
Acuna Jr. once again brings his power to the Braves, as indicated by MLB.com
The Atlanta Braves Impactful Lineup:
Consider that the Braves have five consequential hitters at the top of their everyday lineup.
-Drake Baldwin-C-Bats Left, Age 25
Baldwin is among the best hitting catchers in Major League Baseball.
Missouristatebears.com raved about Baldwin when he was in college.
An All Star this year, Baldwin is a 20* home run hitter, with a solid batting average that hovers around the .270 mark.
Baldwin leads off, and consistently sets the table for his teammates.
-Ronald Acuna Jr.-RF-Bats Right-Age 28
A five-time All Star, the Braves are just a different team with Acuna Jr. in the lineup.
A consistent home run threat, Acuna Jr. has been plagued by knee and hamstring issues that have reduced his career playing time.
Make no mistake, with Acuna Jr. in the lineup, the Braves are a lethal team.
-Matt Olson-1B-Bats Left-Age 32
After playing his 900th consecutive game August 9, Olson set the record for the longest active consecutive games played in MLB.
Olson has been on a home run tear, and much of that can be attributed to Acuna Jr. hitting in front of him, and Michael Harris Jr. hitting behind him in the powerful Braves lineup.
Olson could easily touch the 40 home run mark this season.
-Michael Harris Jr.-CF-Bats Left-Age 25
Not many teams boast a centerfielder with the massive tools of Michael Harris Jr.
Harris Jr. can hit for average (hovering around .290) hit for power, and run.
An excellent defensive outfielder, Harris Jr. both saves runs on defense, and creates runs on offense.
One of the most underrated, and undervalued players in MLB, Harris Jr. goes about his business, scoring runs and driving in runs, while hitting behind Matt Olson.
-Ozzie Albies-2B-Bats Both-Age 29
A four-time All Star, Albies is a solid clutch hitter, and a good defender at second base.
Albies is only 5-7, 165 pounds, but he simply makes things happen.
Albies is often the forgotten man among a star-studded lineup of huge names, with big reputations.
Albies is an excellent contact hitter, putting the bat on the ball, and driving the ball to the gaps.
Albies has home run power, but his speed, and ability to drive in runs are often overlooked in the Braves lineup.
The remainder of the usual Braves lineup, as noted by fangraphs.com includes:
Mauricio Dubon-LF
Mike Yastrzemski- RF
Austin Riley-3B
Jim Jarvis-SS
The bench includes catcher Sean Murphy, first baseman Dominic Smith, infielder Ha-Seong Kim, and outfielder Lane Thomas, who just came to the Braves in a trade with the Kansas City Royals.
The Atlanta Braves Starting Rotation:
Injuries to several of their starting pitchers required the Braves to fill-in their rotation with a group of veterans who are capable of giving their team a chance to win on a daily basis.
Consider that fangraphs.com lists starters Reynaldo Lopez (knee inflammation) Spencer Schwellenbach (arthroscopic elbow surgery) Spencer Strider (elbow inflammation) and Joey Wentz (torn knee ligament) as disabled.
The Braves rotation includes:
-Chris Sale-LHP-Age 37 (the All Star ace of the staff)
-Grant Holmes-RHP-Age 30
-Bryce Elder-RHP-Age 27
-Martin Perez-LHP-Age 35
-Tyler Mahle-RHP-Age 31 (acquired in trade from San Francisco in August)
fangraphs.com notes The bullpen is led by closer Raisel Iglesias, a right hander with 10-years of big league experience.
The pen is loaded with lefties, which allows manager Walt Weiss to attack the opposition’s left-handed hitters late in games.
Iglesias is 36, but he anchors the pen.
Other relievers include:
Dylan Lee-LHP-Age 32
Didier Fuentes-RHP-Age 21
Tyler Kinley-RHP-Age 35
Dylan Dodd-LHP-Age 28
Brent Suter-LHP-Age 36
Danny Young-LHP-Age 32
Victor Mederos-RHP-Age 25
The Los Angeles Dodgers could very well have a battle on their hands for National League supremacy.
Conclusions about the Atlanta Braves.
The Atlanta Braves have a very well-balanced, well managed club. They could easily challenge the Dodgers for a World Series title.