1. Emotional Roller Coaster
Entering the 2021 season, everyone knew the Atlanta Braves would be a good team. However, many still believed the New York Mets were better and would win the division. Early on, it appeared that was the case but how quickly things can change.
Things were bleak early on as the team struggled to get above .500 and just lacked consistency. It appeared they just didn't have the "it" factor that good teams have. They then lost their superstar outfielder, Ronald Acuna Jr., to a knee injury as he leapt for a ball in Miami.
It looked like a nail in the coffin for this Braves team but Alex Anthopoulos and the front office had other ideas as they brought Joc Pederson over to cover the loss of Acuna Jr. Pederson ended up being a spark for a clubhouse that seemed to lack energy and you could tell the morale boost that followed him to Atlanta.
Not long after that, AA went for it bring over 3 more outfielders and betting on his team. Eddie Rosario, Jorge Soler, and Adam Duvall all became major impacts for the Braves. They all contributed highly in the postseason as well. If Anthopoulos doesn't make those trades, this team doesn't win the World Series.
A monstrous month of August fueled the Braves' comeback to take the division lead. The Mets and Braves were each 14-13 in the month of July but it was August that made the difference. Atlanta went 18-8 during August as the Mets collapsed with a 9-19 record during that same month.
It took the entire month of September to decide the division but eventually, the Braves won the NL East for the 4th straight season with an 88-73 record. Atlanta was not expected to go deep into the playoffs so to be the last team standing was emotional in a great way.