The Atlanta Braves sit atop the National League and have given every reason for fans to be excited about the season that lies ahead. Atlanta has dominated, recapturing the magic of the 2023 offense while having the perfect mix of pitching that will only grow deeper with the upcoming returns of injured starters.
While star players are understandably getting the bulk of the attention, there are a handful of pieces that deserve more credit for Atlanta's hot start. Players who were question marks coming into the season or were facing far lower expectations. This list starts with a reliever who has been beyond dominating through the first month of the 2026 season.
1. Dylan Lee
The southpaw has appeared in 14 games this season, allowing two earned runs. One of these earned runs came on a play against the Philadelphia Phillies, where center fielder Eli White slipped on the wet grass and fell, allowing a leadoff triple on what would typically be a routine out. Lee has struck out 13 and only given up a pair of walks, easily being Atlanta's most reliable setup option in the first month of the season.
While the expectation was that the veteran reliever would be an important piece of the bullpen, this early performance has defied all realistic hopes. It is a genuine shock to see Lee give up base runners, pointing to just how dominating the start of the season has been. The lefty deserves more credit and attention for what has been a truly remarkable start to the 2026 season.
2. Dominic Smith
Remember that injuries opened the door for Smith to make Atlanta's roster in the first place. The slugger was a spring training invite who wasn't expected to be anything more than depth. Instead, injuries to Ha-Seong Kim and Sean Murphy opened the door for Smith to make the roster, and the DH has taken full advantage.
Smith is hitting .344 and has driven in 17 runners, including an early-season walk-off homer to set the tone for Atlanta's incredible start to 2026. Watching Smith's first month has been one of the most exciting and shocking pieces for a Braves team that continues to find surprise contributors.
3. Martin Perez
It took injuries to Spencer Strider, Hurston Waldrep, and Spencer Schwellenbach for Perez to be granted an opportunity in the Atlanta rotation. Even after this, the team opted to move in a different direction, designating the left-hander for assignment before he would return on a minor league deal. All Perez has done is find ways to eat innings, pitching 28.1 innings with only seven earned runs given up.
This is the type of performance the Braves were expecting from Waldrep or Strider, not an aging veteran who appeared to be on his way out of the league. While Perez isn't missing all that many bats, the starter makes the most of his arsenal and has been fun to watch over the first month of the season. While it remains an uphill battle for Perez to stick in the rotation, the veteran has unquestionably extended his career, offering the Braves quality innings when they needed it most.
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