![\"This](\"https:\/\/cdn.vox-cdn.com\/thumbor\/QqiYkAeUlvNQc9cPTBNr-Yeb8io=\/0x0:2723x4085\/1200x800\/filters:focal(1242x906:1676x1340)\/cdn.vox-cdn.com\/uploads\/chorus_image\/image\/71614216\/1218682088.0.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe Atlanta Braves have proven to be the most dominant team in Major League Baseball, as they remain the only team above the 40-win mark (41-20).<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Braves<\/a> have dealt with injuries to key personnel but have had the depth to withstand the losses. The latest blow came when the Braves<\/a> lost catchers Drake Baldwin (strained right oblique muscle) on May 19 and Sean Murphy<\/a> (fractured left middle finger) on May 12. Persevering through their injuries and sitting two games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in baseball, Braves legend John Smoltz still thinks the Dodgers are the team to beat.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI think right now the healthiest team is the Atlanta Braves,” Smoltz said to DJ Siddiqi of Casino.org<\/a>. “But to say what the future holds, the Dodgers have assimilated the best roster altogether. And in that case, I give a nod to the Dodgers based on their roster. But it\u2019s still up in the air based on all the other components. It\u2019s going to be hard-pressed to accumulate the kind of roster that they did, unless you make some trades. They\u2019ve definitely got the head start over the rest of the teams.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Smoltz spent 20 seasons with the Braves (1988-2008) and was a part of one of the greatest trios in baseball history, paired with Hall of Famers Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine in a starting rotation.<\/p>\n Smoltz did add that the Braves are one of the healthier teams — right-hander Hurston Waldrep (right elbow inflammation) began throwing bullpens in early May and could return this summer — and can beat anybody.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all health,\u201d Smoltz told Casino.org in an exclusive interview. \u201cTheir ability to stay healthy is going to be how they navigate the National League, which is loaded with teams. If they can keep their pitching staff healthy, they\u2019re going to be right there and can beat anybody. That\u2019s the problem, though. Last year was a perfect storm. They were not able to be healthy, and they started the season 0-9. The opposite has happened this year. So quite different between the two extremes, and somewhere in the middle is what the Atlanta Braves can be.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nThe Braves Get A Positive Update On Drake Baldwin<\/h3>\n