The Atlanta Braves are making their case to be buyers at the trade deadline following a statement win over the Phillies.
The Atlanta Braves are getting hot at the right time.
Last night, just three days ago I wrote an article that mentioned the fact that Baseball-Reference had the Braves at about a 21% chance of making the postseason. Three days later, that number is 27.8%.
Atlanta is coming off a 15-3 victory over the Phillies on Saturday night. The beating also put Atlanta and Philadelphia in a tie for second place in the NL East.
Atlanta is just four games back of a Mets team that is very catchable.
The trade deadline is now just five days away. The next few games could decide whether or not the team is buying or selling.
To Be The Man, You Gotta Look Like a Man! WOOOO
Since the All-Star break, the Braves have had a tough schedule but have held their own.
They came out of the break against one of the best teams in the league, the defending American League Champions – Tampa Bay Rays.
Atlanta only walked away with one win out of the three-game series but they dominated in that one victory while playing two tightly contested games in which (same old story) the bullpen failed them.
Next up? Two games with Charlie Freeman’s favorite player Fernando Tatis Jr. and the San Diego Padres.
They split the series with a 2-1 win and a 2-3 loss. The third game was suspended with a single-run’s margin as well.
The Braves walked away from these matchups with two of the premier teams in the league looking like they belonged.
Yes: despite the deficiencies in the lineup due to the losses of Ronald Acuna Jr., Marcell Ozuna, and Travis d’Arnaud, the Braves belonged.
Despite the fact that the bullpen has been credited with 22 losses, the Braves belonged.
They followed up those five games by taking two of the first three games over the Phillies in a four-game set.
Atlanta Braves Making a Statement
The Braves didn’t just put themselves into a tie for second place with the victory last night. They made a statement in the 15-3 spanking they administered to the Phillies.
Yes, the offense erupted with five homers. However, on the other side of the box score, the Braves got a solid performance from the much-maligned bullpen.
Resurgent starter Drew Smyly was removed from the game after just four innings with knee pain.
The bullpen stepped in and held the Phillies to just three runs (two earned) over the final five innings.
Atlanta Braves Buying or Selling?
The Braves have a chance to seize second place all to themselves today with the fourth game against Philadelphia.
There isn’t much room for “looking good” like they did against the Rays and Padres. The team has to put wins on the board.
This division is winnable. The Braves are a good team. The bullpen is better than the numbers have shown so far. A few more victories over the next few days could be the final amount of pressure needed for AA to pull the trigger on a few deals that buy instead of sell.
What You Need To Do
Exercise your superstitions, wear your Atlanta gear in public, call your Mets friends and tell them we are coming… Just kidding, you better not have any friends that like the Mets.
Wear your crusty old socks without washing them to maintain momentum for the Braves.
A few wins, a little hope, and maybe we see Craig Kimbrel back in a Braves uniform at the deadline. Maybe Joey Gallo adds his impact bat to the lineup. Maybe we can pull this thing off.