Despite losing three straight games up to this point, the Atlanta Braves still sit atop the National League Pennant competition.
The website Pennant-Race.com graphically points out where the Braves stand from the start of the season to today. As of this writing, the team sits six games ahead of the second-place Los Angeles Dodgers. Even the most recent losses (including the Braves’ 16-13 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks) don’t seem to hurt the team’s standings too badly, as the Braves maintain a healthy gap between them and the Dodgers.
The Braves in the NL East are even further ahead of the Phillies, 9 games.
Not to say that the Braves don’t need to change their current win-loss trajectory to keep the Dodgers far behind them. LA has won 2 out of their last 3 games up to this point, while the Braves have lost their last three. They play the second of a four-game series against the Diamondbacks tonight.
The Braves will have an opportunity to further distance themselves from the Dodgers with a four-game series against the team starting August 31st.
National League Pennant Standings
BRAVES 61-32 (+6)
Dodgers 55-39
Giants 54-41 (+7)
Diamondbacks 53-42 (+8)
Phillies 52-42 (+9)
Data source: Pennant Race.com