2. The Atlanta Braves offense looks like one that needs a break
Chalk it up to a number of factors: the recent injuries, the dog days of September, a schedule against some tough pitching, or even a bit of existing complacency with a big division lead.
None of those are meant to be excuses, but the simple fact is the Atlanta Braves offense that took the field Wednesday night and slumped their way to just 1 run certainly looks like a lineup that could use a reset button.
In fact, ever since their ten-run barrage against Washington last Saturday, the Braves have cooled off significantly over their last three games, as they’ve put together just five runs over their last 27 innings at the plate.
Eight strikeouts and twelve men left on base on Wednesday certainly aren’t numbers you’d hope to see from an offense prepping itself for a division series looming ahead in just a couple of weeks.
So maybe, just maybe, what the Braves truly need is to give several of its starters some real rest.
There’s no denying just how powerful the Atlanta lineup can be when it is clicking on all cylinders: the three-headed monster of Ronald Acuna, Jr.-Freddie Freeman-Josh Donaldson is other-worldly fearsome for opposing pitchers, while Ozzie Albies and Nick Markakis give the lineup valuable depth.
But clicking on all cylinders, they are not – at least not at the moment.
Some rest and recovery can certainly help with that, and get the Braves primed to have their stars shining brightest when it matters most: in October.
Clinching the division can’t happen soon enough for Atlanta, as their lineup stars could definitely benefit from the reset.