At this point, the Atlanta Braves are no longer just having a great season.
They are starting to separate themselves as the best team in Major League Baseball.
Through 66 games, the Braves sit at 45-21, holding the best record in baseball while being second in the league in run differential at +116. They own one of the most complete rosters in the sport, ranking near the top of MLB offensively while continuing to dominate on the mound.
And the scary part for the rest of the league?
Atlanta still may not have fully hit its ceiling yet.
The biggest recent development is Ronald Acuña Jr. finally beginning to look comfortable again. After returning from injury earlier this season, Acuña understandably took time to regain rhythm and confidence at the plate. But over the last couple weeks, his explosiveness has clearly returned.
The power is showing up again. The swagger is back. The energy has changed.
When Acuña is fully locked in, the Braves become almost impossible to pitch to because opposing teams already have to deal with one of the deepest lineups in baseball.
Matt Olson continues leading the power attack with 17 home runs and 47 RBIs, while Michael Harris II is quietly putting together one of the best all-around seasons of his career. Harris is hitting over .300 while continuing to play elite defense in center field, giving Atlanta one of the best two-way outfielders in baseball.
Ozzie Albies has also remained incredibly consistent, providing production at the plate and defensive stability in the middle infield. Even when certain stars have gone through slumps or injuries, Atlanta’s depth continues carrying them.
And then there’s Drake Baldwin.
Before suffering his recent injury, Baldwin was emerging as one of the biggest breakout stars on the roster. The young catcher owns a .303 average with a .931 OPS and was becoming a massive piece of Atlanta’s lineup before being sidelined. The good news for the Braves is that Baldwin is expected to return within the next one to two weeks, which could make this offense even more dangerous moving forward.
But while the lineup gets most of the headlines, Atlanta’s pitching staff may honestly be the biggest reason this team looks so dominant.
Chris Sale has continued pitching like one of the best starters in baseball, posting a 2.23 ERA while consistently shutting down opposing lineups. Bryce Elder has also been phenomenal, giving Atlanta another reliable arm near the top of the rotation with a 2.66 ERA across 84 innings.
Even with Spencer Strider still working back into full rhythm after his injury return, the Braves continue winning games because the pitching depth has stepped up everywhere.
And late in games, Raisel Iglesias has returned to looking like one of baseball’s elite closers. Atlanta’s bullpen has consistently protected leads, which becomes even more important once playoff baseball arrives.
What separates the Braves from most teams right now is balance.
They hit for power. They defend at a high level. They run the bases well. Their rotation is deep. Their bullpen closes games. And unlike some other contenders, they have multiple stars who still feel capable of playing even better.
The Dodgers remain dangerous. The Brewers have been excellent. The Yankees still have one of baseball’s most explosive lineups.
But right now, nobody looks more complete than Atlanta.
And if Acuña continues heating up while Drake Baldwin returns healthy soon, the Braves may only be getting started.
Check Out All EasySportz MLB Content Here
