3 Takeaways from Atlanta Braves BIG comeback win against the Nationals

1.  A 5.5 Game NL East Lead

Not that long ago, it seemed like every time the Braves would win a game, the Phillies would too and it just looked like the Braves would never get ahead in the standings. Now, it seems like they are running away with it.

With a dangerous line-up with power and consistency up and down, an imploding Nationals bullpen and faltering Phillies offense, the Braves now have a five-and-a-half game margin.

Anything can change once the second half of the season starts but as of right now, the Braves are hot and they’ve been hot for over a month now so it’s not like a out-of-nowhere adrenaline boost.

The Braves are just dominant and every guy in the lineup can do damage, which is why they have a guy in top three at every position for the All-Star voting. Plus, it looks like they’ll be having at least two starters for the game.

Our own Alan Carpenter asked an intriguing question in one of his recent articles about how long until the Nationals pass the Phillies for second place in the NL East —and be a threat to the Braves.  An article from the Washington Post added to it too, mentioning how (before their implosion on Saturday) the Nats were playing “their best baseball” of the season and were getting close to .500.

If the Braves keep up this offense which has included winning by taking the lead first, by doing comebacks, doing improbable comebacks, blowouts and extra inning walk-offs, they will run away with it.

However, to be fair, their recent opponents have been mostly teams that are third place or below in the standings:

• Mets (4th-NL East)
• Phillies (2nd-NL East)
• Pirates (5th-NL Central)
• Marlins (5th-NL East)
• Tigers (4th-AL Central)

Even in the second half of May, when they faced the Cardinals who are third in NL Central and the Giants who are fifth in the NL West. However, during recent hot run, they haven’t won games against division leading teams like their upcoming schedule against the Cubs.

So it’s been relatively easy. Though they won the May series against the Brewers, they were swept by the Dodgers.

Luckily after their series against the Cubs, they’ll end the first half against the Phillies, Mets and Marlins again. So by the All-Star point, the Braves could build an even bigger led in the division.

On Sunday, the Braves will try to take the series with Mike Soroka on the mound against Austin Voth, who was called up for Sunday with the release of Trevor Rosenthal.