Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Braves proving that the early bird does get the worm

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 7/1/23

The Atlanta Braves are red-hot heading toward the All-Star break, boasting the best record in the National League (55-27), and they can attribute much of their first-half success to one massive advantage — quick starts.

The Braves are one of the deadliest teams in the first inning this season, and it's yielded more than positive results. In the first inning this year, the Braves have recorded more runs (87), home runs (29) and hits (121) than any other team in baseball this year, resulting in a +62 run differential, also the best in the majors.

Braves in 1st inning, 2023:

87 runs, most of any team in any inning

29 HR, most of any team in any inning

121 hits, most of any team in any inning

+62 run diff, 22 runs better than any other team in any inning
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) July 1, 2023

Atlanta's dominance in the first inning was on full display Saturday against the Miami Marlins.

Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies homered the lead off Saturday's contest, bringing the Braves' first-inning dinger total to 30. The back-to-back long balls helped the Braves equal the 2018 Colorado Rockies and 2000 St. Louis Cardinals for the second-most first-inning homers through August in baseball history. Only the 2019 Cincinnati Reds (31) have hit more. Furthermore, Atlanta is on pace to topple the MLB record for first-inning homers for a season (46).

Here we go again.

Ronald Acuña Jr. is UNREAL. pic.twitter.com/zvHSUe30KZ
— MLB (@MLB) July 1, 2023

Unfortunately for the Marlins, the Braves' early power display was only an appetizer. Atlanta would add four more runs in the inning, chasing Marlins starter Eury Perez after he'd recorded only one out. Atlanta would tack on an insurance run in the eighth, cruising to a 7-0 win.

Entering play Saturday, one would be hard-pressed to find a team playing better baseball than the Braves. Atlanta has won seven straight games following a breezy victory over the Marlins. Since June 4, the Braves have lost only three times in their last 24 tries.

More must-reads: