Atlanta Braves Improving Faster Than Expected
By Kit Anderson
The Atlanta Braves season has gotten off to a better start then expected with the Braves winning three straight series.
While the Phillies may not be the best that the National League has to offer the Braves have beaten other good teams with a winning recipe that could last all season long.
Watching the Atlanta Braves early this season it isn’t hard to tell that the roster is better and deeper than it has been in a long time. The pitching seems to be slowly improving and the offense has been almost unbelievably good scoring 63 runs in the early going good enough for 3rd in all of baseball.
Last night’s loss to the Nationals not withstanding the Braves offense has been clicking from top to bottom. Working counts and getting on base
Guys like Dansby Swanson and Ozzie Albies seem to be taking a step forward piling up a combined 27 hits early on with Swanson hitting a sizzling .366. Veterans like Nick Markakis have helped the team remaining consistent hitting .302 and providing some protection for Freddie Freeman.
While the bullpen and rotation are questionable due to the inexperience the Braves early success is maintainable if the team can continue to get contributions up and down the lineup.
The bullpen and rotation are questionable due to the fact that Julio Teheran has an ERA over 7 and is yet to look anything like himself while the back end of the Braves bullpen lacks any trustworthy closers.
The team will be getting better soon with the anticipated return of Tyler Flowers looming. Flowers is the Braves best offensive catcher and will give a hot lineup another big boost.
Mike Foltynewicz and Sean Newcomb have both flashed their potential recently. Sean Newcomb pitched a six inning dominating start on the road against the Rockies showing his potential. While Folynewicz has been consistent early pitching at least five innings in all of his first three starts.
As long as those trends remain the Braves are going to continue to be a surprise and hang onto relevance well past the All-star Break.
That isn’t to say that this team is ready for postseason contention. Only that this is a much better roster than expected one that is going to win a lot more than Braves fans have gotten used to.
It is official the Braves’ rebuild is finally over and the time to win and compete again is back in Atlanta.