The Atlanta Braves are exceeding expectations.
Lately, game after game, the Braves red-hot bats are powering the team above and beyond their peers, and certainly keeping them far ahead of the pack in the National League East.
Even the national media, who are usually jaded about Atlanta professional sports teams, are taking notice.
USA TODAY put the Braves on top of its MLB Power Rankings, citing it’s powerhouse hitting line up which produced 87 first-inning runs.
“Safe to say, Atlanta is having a pretty damn good season,” says Clutch Points’ Wyatt Allsup. “And they’re using the long ball to do it.”
June was a record-breaking month for the Braves. They set an MLB record for all-time home runs in a month, with 61 homers. The team played 27 games in 30 days in June, which makes that record even more sweeter. They had to hustle nearly non-stop last month to break that record.
The Braves sit comfortably at the top of the NL East, nine games ahead of the Miami Marlins. They have a .675 pct record. No other team in the Major League has a better record.
Evening, everyone. pic.twitter.com/ykGgUDFzgm
— Kevin McAlpin (@KevinMcAlpin) July 3, 2023
That may be because the Braves have an offensive line other teams fear, or should.
The top 8 hitters on the team have launched a combined 17 home runs in the last seven days. Most of those came in the first inning, where fans watched in awe as Braves hitters sent ball after ball flying into the stands against the Marlins and Twins. Ronald Acuna leads with 4 homers, 21 overall this year so far, with Matt Olson (3/28), Ozzie Albies (2/20), and Sean Murphy (2/14) following.
The Braves, who currently have a eight-game winning streak, mastered the Twins and the Marlins, sweeping both series. Now they face separate three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays. Both are on the road. The Rays have the next-best record in the League (.655; 57-30) The Guardians are second place in an underachieving AL Central. (.494; 41-42) The Braves bats show no signs of quieting down anytime soon, so they should win 2 of 3 against the Guardians, if not sweep the series. The Braves should go 2 of 3 at least against the stronger Rays.
The Guardians series starts tonight at 7:10 pm. The Rays series starts at 6:40 pm on Friday.