The Atlanta Braves are currently 25-28 and in third place in the National League East. The team is nine-and-a-half games behind the first place Philadelphia Phillies and seven-and-a-half games behind the second place New York Mets.
Yet, somehow, Atlanta isn’t out of the playoff race. Even after a brutal 0-7 start to the season, MLB.com Major League Baseball writer Jason Foster says the team is “bound for the playoffs.”
Atlanta’s offense hasn’t been good. Four of its everyday players have an OPS lower than .700, including Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II.
According to Foster, the Braves’ 2-5 hitters have just a .631 OPS with runners in scoring position and are 13th in the NL in runs scored.
Ronald Acuna Jr. has made an immediate impact since returning from injury on May 23, and he’s the key to jumpstarting this offense.
Another factor is Spencer Strider, who returned from injury on May 20. Strider was dominant against the Phillies on May 27 despite walking four batters in 4.2 innings pitched.
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Matt Olson has been on fire since May 10, and Marcell Ozuna is getting on base at a .425 clip. Rookie catcher Drake Baldwin is slashing .337/.381/.531 in 33 games this season, pairing well with catcher Sean Murphy.
Foster mentioned that the Braves have been in this position several times through 53 games over the last four seasons.
In 2021, Atlanta won the World Series against the Houston Astros. In 2022, they made the postseason but fell short in the NL Division Series against the Phillies.
Being under .500 at this point in the season doesn’t scare the Braves, and getting Acuna and Strider back is a shot in the arm for the club.
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