The Second Half Braves are Looking Good

The Braves are hot again. This may be disappointing to fans of the other teams in the NL East, but the window to catch up has shut. The Phillies did make it interesting for a little while when the Braves were slumping really hard, but the fiery start they had to the season kept the competition at bay long enough for them to find their identity again.

Pitching has never been an issue for them. Pitcher injuries have been, but even that is negligible because they have so many arms down in Gwinnett just waiting for their time to shine. Bryce Elder might be one of the sore spots in the main rotation, but he usually only has one blow up inning per night. Tonight, against the Nationals, he limited that blow up to just one run despite runners in scoring position with only one out.

With a starter that can go deep into a game like Elder did tonight (and everybody else on the staff can do on a daily basis), the most elite bullpen in the game is given the task of shutting the door. That has not been a question all season. There have been a couple of games here and there where the bullpen has done a lackluster job, but overall, they are as reliable as the taxman taking your money.

The resurgence of the offense is what is powering this current stretch. Before the All-Star Break the Braves could not buy a run. Now, with Baldwin recatching his stride, Olsen staying hot, and Acuna coming back to the lineup and making an immediate impact, this offense can score off of any pitching staff in the country.

The Braves will likely continue to extend their eight-game lead over Philadelphia in the month of August. The Braves’ slump has ended, and the Phillies’ remarkable hot streak has cooled off. If the Braves make any improvement at the deadline, the division is locked down.