The Braves overcame a sluggish start and a string of misfortune to win the National League East again Thursday. They’ll face the Brewers in the NL Division Series beginning next week.
Numbers that help define the Braves’ wild season:
30-35, 8.0: On June 16, it seemed the season was slipping away. The Braves dropped to 30-35, eight games behind the Mets in the division. In seven games, they trimmed that deficit to 4-1/2 games, but the Braves didn’t establish themselves as division favorites until August.
6: General manager Alex Anthopoulos completed six July trades, including four at the trade deadline. He acquired outfielders Joc Pederson, Eddie Rosario, Adam Duvall and Jorge Soler, catcher Stephen Vogt and reliever Richard Rodriguez. Each played a key role in the Braves’ surge back to the postseason, helping them compensate for losing players such as Ronald Acuna, Marcell Ozuna and Travis d’Arnaud.
“Everybody has injuries, but we had some huge injuries with our team,” manager Brian Snitker said. “Credit to (general manager) Alex (Anthopoulos) and his team for what they did at the deadline.”
18: It feels long ago, but to start the second half, the Braves alternated wins and losses for 18 consecutive games, an MLB record. That record was eliminated, however, when the Braves and Padres completed their suspended result last week. Nonetheless, it was a baffling run that illustrated how frustrating the Braves were before they hit their stride.
9: The season’s turning point was a nine-game trip to Washington, Miami and Baltimore on Aug. 13-22. The Braves swept the trip, taking over sole possession of first place and climbing well above .500 after spending most of the season hovering around it. The Braves never looked back after one of the most dominant road trips in franchise history.
“That was huge because in baseball, you can look back and say, ‘Oh, you’re supposed to win against those teams,’ but you never know,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “The game of baseball is crazy. When you take care of business, it built our confidence going forward that we expected to win. We have a really good team.”
43-30: A logical theme in the Braves’ four-year run atop the NL East: wins over divisional foes. This season was no different. The Braves are 43-30 against the Phillies, Mets, Marlins and Nationals. They’re 8-8 against the Mets, whom they host this weekend, but secured a winning record against the other three clubs. Overall, the Braves are 162-103 against the division over the past four seasons.
.303: Third baseman Austin Riley unexpectedly was the Braves’ MVP, hitting .303/.368/.899 with 33 homers and 105 RBIs entering the final three games. It was a remarkable season of growth for Riley, who garnered loud “MVP” chants from the Truist Park crowd during Thursday’s clinching win.
“When I did struggle, I didn’t panic,” Riley said of his season. “I feel like that’s what I did in ‘19 and a little bit of ‘20, just trying to force results. It’s a game of failure. You’re going to go through slumps. Take it for what it is. Just move on and keep working. I think that’s what I’m most proud of myself this year.”
1.74: Left-hander Max Fried has a 1.74 ERA in the second half, best in the majors. Fried has earned front-line starter status over the past two seasons, but he’s shown how spectacular he can be in the past few months. The combination of Fried and veteran Charlie Morton atop the team’s rotation is a main reason the Braves like their chances in October.
1.90: Some fans wanted reliever Luke Jackson non-tendered in the winter. It’s a good thing the Braves stuck with him, as he arguably was the best reliever in the majors this season. Jackson has a 1.90 ERA over 69 games. He has a 69:29 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 61-2/3 innings. It’s difficult to imagine where the Braves’ bullpen would’ve been without Jackson’s steady hand.
30: The power surge in the Braves’ infield was historically impressive. Freeman, second baseman Ozzie Albies and Riley each reached the 30-homer mark. Shortstop Dansby Swanson, finishing his own career-best season, needs three home runs this weekend to reach 30. The Braves would become the first infield in which each starter slugged 30 homers.
4: The Braves clinched their fourth consecutive division title Thursday. Their run is the second-longest in MLB behind only the Dodgers’ eight consecutive division titles, a streak that’s in jeopardy as Los Angeles trails San Francisco by two games entering the final three games.
“Winning a division is fantastic,” Anthopoulos said. “I don’t think I’ll ever not appreciate the grind of the six months and all the games. But under the circumstances of all we went through, I’d say it is the most rewarding year of my career.”
