The Atlanta Braves have been a very streaky team to start the season. In the 22 games they have played so far, the Braves have losing streaks of five and six games. On the other hand, they have winning streaks of five and four games. One reason for these streaks is the opposing pitchers they are facing are great. The likes of Max Scherzer, Noah Syndergaard, Stephen Strasburg, Gerrit Cole, and others have proven very difficult to beat in their careers. Atlanta’s injuries have also hindered their ability to gel offensively, but now the Braves offense is producing runs.
The Atlanta Braves Produce Runs
Batting Order
The new batting order of Adonis Garcia hitting second and Dansby Swanson hitting eighth has been great in the past four games. Both were struggling to begin the season, but a change of scenery has helped jump-start their bats. While there are still some holes in the lineup, the revamped batting order has allowed the Braves to score 36 runs during their current four-game win streak. The influx of runs has not been due to an increase of power either. While the Braves have hit homeruns, including three from Matt Kemp in Saturday’s 11-3 victory, most of their runs have come from hitting well in high-leverage situations. Atlanta’s 55 hits in their current four-game win streak is as good as it gets for a team that many experts thought would finish last in the NL East.
Injuries
There have been a few injuries to the team that has hurt the offensive production. Kemp was placed on the 10-day disabled list on April 10th, retroactive to April eighth. The injury occurred during a crucial part of April’s schedule as the Braves played games against division rivals Miami and Washington. A makeshift lineup was produced every game during his absence, and the results showed his absence. After that, Brandon Phillips removed himself from a game with a strained groin. While he only missed two games, Phillips is a key part of the lineup. He is hitting .347 with nine RBI and a team leading five stolen bases. Now everyone is healthy and ready to do their part in a red-hot offense.
As long as this offensive production can continue, the Braves will stay competitive the rest of the way. The pitching has improved, and the entire team is showing elevated confidence, feeding off one another as good teams do. While this could come crashing down with an injury or a team-wide slump, it is great to see the Braves beginning to turn a corner.
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