Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: Playoffs of Bust
The Atlanta Braves have has a productive week with a pair of sweeps over San Diego and Philadelphia. Now comes the test, which starts with a holiday afternoon affair in Washington.
When looking at team batting stats over the past 2 weeks, it’s easy to get caught up in ‘small sample size’ hot takes. Yet after a very slow start to this 2-16 season, it’s probably okay to indulge in such things – briefly – when discussing our Atlanta Braves. So let’s have some fun with it:
Braves’ Team Ranks/Last 14 Days
- fWar (includes defense): 3.1. (2nd in majors; 1st in NL; Angels, 3.8)
- Offense-only production: 13.3. (4th in majors; Angels, 20.6)
- Runs scored: 74, (3rd in majors; Rangers, 81)
- Batting average: .289 (5th in majors; 2nd in NL)
- OBP: .379 (1st in majors)
- Slugging: .456 (9th in majors)
- Team OPS: .835 (5th in majors; 2nd in NL)
- wRC+: 121 (4th in majors)
- Homers: 13 (16th in majors)
- Doubles: 33 (1st in majors)
- Hits: 131 (2nd in majors; 1st in NL)
- Sacrifice Flies: 9 (tied: 1st in majors, Yankees)
- Walks: 68 (1st in majors; 2nd is MIL w/55)
- Strikeouts: 100 (tied 15th in majors)
That is a playoff-caliber offense, though it has come at the expense of the Padres and Phillies – but you also have to note that this 2 week period includes the games against Arizona and San Francisco.
If you’d like to go further back, the Braves lost 3 of 4 to the Nationals at Turner Field, though scored 24 runs in the process… so there is actually reason for some optimism as Atlanta swings into the Washington Navy Yards this afternoon… if the pitching can hold up this time ’round.
Game time today is 3:05 ET.
Next: 1 Chance: Go Big or Go Home