Top five jaw-dropping plays from the Atlanta Braves in the first half

As the Braves head into the second half of the 2024 regular season, there is plenty to reminisce about from a first half that saw them go 53-42, sitting atop the NL wildcard standings.

From no-hit outings to big home runs to dazzling defensive plays, the 2024 Atlanta Braves have displayed a little bit of everything. So let's count down the five best plays from the first half of their season, starting off with three honorable mentions:

Honorable Mention: Jarred Kelenic diving catch against the Red Sox

It would be bad taste to not include an honorable mention in this top-five list.

Jarred Kelenic has been a very good glove in the outfield, playing in all three spots at some point this season, but mostly manning the left field spot. He has made numerous diving and sliding catches in the outfield this season, so many that it would not surprise me if he earned a gold glove nomination out there in left field.

The one that sticks out the most is his diving catch against Boston on June 5 that saw him come up a little banged up. Spoiler alert: He ends up being alright.

Honorable Mention: Max Fried takes no-hitter to the eighth

This one lands in honorable mention because it is not so much a play, as it is an incredible outing by Max Fried, one that saw a potential combined no-hitter broken up in the ninth inning.

Fried carved the Mets up on this day, and if not for a high pitch count, he may have pulled off the no-hitter. But alas, he came up just short and instead had to settle for a heck of an outing and a win in the win column.

Fried has had several outstanding outings after a rough start including a 13 strikeout performance later in the same month and a Maddux, rather a complete game shutout in which he threw less than 100 pitches.

It's been a heck of a year so far for the all-star, let's hope it continues.

5. Travis D'Arnaud walk-off hit in home opener

We start off the list with Travis D'Arnaud's walk-off single that very nearly was a walk-off home run in the home opener against the Diamondbacks back on April 5.

It was a game that saw the Braves trailing 5-2 going into the eighth inning before they made a furious comeback, scoring a run in the eighth and two in the ninth to tie it before D'Arnaud's walk-off warning track single.

It's been an up-and-down season for D'Arnaud. He came out of the gates on fire after Sean Murphy's opening-day injury but has since simmered down. Part of that is due to less playing time with Murphy's return to the lineup.

But plays like this summed up the early part of the seaon for D'Arnaud.

4. Austin Riley saves the game against the Marlins

Austin Riley is well on his way to another gold glove nomination at third base.

And you can chalk up plays like this for helping him get there. Not only was this a fantastic defensive play, but it was a clutch one, keeping the game tied at three in the top of the 10th inning against the Marlins.

It's a heck of a throw from his knees and a great stop at that. The Braves went on to win this game in the bottom of the inning, only adding to the greatness of the play.

3. Jarred Kelenic robs Garrett Cooper of a home run

As previously mentioned, Jarred Kelenic is having the best defensive year of his young career and it's thanks to plays like this that I would be shocked to not see him as a gold glove nominee come season's end.

There are so many things to love about the play. For one, it's just an acrobatic play and one that to some may not seem as incredible as it actually is, but timing his jump isn't as easy as it looks here.

It's also fantastic that maybe the most surprised person to see that he caught the ball was Jarred Kelenic himself. Chris Sale loved it too, as evidenced by him not being able to contain his laughter afterwards.

It's just a great play that signifies the great defensive season that Kelenic is having for the Braves in 2024.

2. Arcia's and Ozzie's incredible force out against the Pirates

This was one of the more wacky but incredible defensive plays you'll see and it took not one but two incredible defensive efforts by the Braves' middle infielders to get it done.

First an incredible sliding stop by Arcia and then while turned the wrong way he makes a wild flip to second base. The flip is predictably offline but Ozzie makes an incredible barehanded snag and then tags the base with his glove to get the out.

It's the perfect play to sum up what it is like watching Arcia and Albies man the middle of the infield: beautiful and unpredictable.

There may not be a better Braves defensive play this season because that one is going to be tough to top.

1. Travis D'Arnaud hits grand slam for third home run of the game.

After a run of spectacular defensive plays, the list ends with a spectacular offensive play, made by who else than the man who was unstoppable to start the season in Travis D'Arnaud.

What a showing this was for the platoon catcher, as he essentially carried the Braves over the finish line in this one.

He broke a 1-1 tie with his first home run in the second inning, added to the lead with another solo bomb in the fifth, and broke a 3-3 tie with this grand slam in the sixth inning, which essentially sealed an 8-3.

He was 3-for-4, driving in six of the eight runs on the night for the Braves.

It was the first three home runs of the season for him and a third of his home run total of the season so far, as he currently sits at nine.

I'd say that's a pretty good night.

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