The Atlanta Braves have been on a roll, winning seven of their last nine games, despite managing to score more than four runs just once during that stretch. It’s become increasingly clear that the Braves’ success this season hinges on the strength of their pitching staff, which is arguably the best in baseball, even with key players like Max Fried, Reynaldo López, A.J. Minter, and Pierce Johnson missing significant time.
As the Braves fight to secure their Wild Card spot and make a deep postseason run, ESPN has pointed out the team’s clear strength heading into October: their elite pitching. However, they’ll need to keep up the momentum to ensure a playoff berth, which means continued excellence from stars like Chris Sale, Reynaldo López, and Max Fried.
Chris Sale has been a standout, leading the National League in wins, ERA, and strikeouts, putting him in line to potentially win the pitching Triple Crown—the first NL pitcher to do so since Clayton Kershaw in 2011. López recently returned from a forearm injury and made an immediate impact, striking out 10 over five innings against the Phillies, lowering his ERA to 2.05. Meanwhile, Max Fried, despite not having his best season, remains a key figure with his All-Star experience and ability to limit home runs. Veteran Charlie Morton, at 40 years old, continues to contribute with his big-game experience, bolstered by a strong bullpen.
Few rotations in baseball can rival Atlanta’s top four of Max Fried, Chris Sale, Reynaldo López, and Spencer Schwellenbach. Add in the seasoned Charlie Morton and promising young talents like A.J. Smith-Shawver and Ian Anderson waiting in Triple-A, and the Braves are well-equipped for a playoff push.
The formula for Atlanta’s success is straightforward: keep games low-scoring and rely on their power hitters to deliver when it counts. While the margin for error is slim, there’s plenty of reason for optimism if the Braves can make it into the postseason.
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