The Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers emerge from the All-Star break as the only two NL teams among the Top 10 teams in the majors.
The Braves were victims of a three-game sweep in L.A. in early May. The Dodgers come to Atlanta in mid-August. The two teams met in last year's NLDS, with the Dodgers besting the Braves in four games. A playoff meeting may be in offing again this season.
Atlanta was represented by three players — Freddie Freeman, Ronald Acuna and pitcher Mike Soroka — in Tuesday's All-Star Game. The Dodgers had five players — Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy and pitchers Clayton Kershaw, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Walker Buehler — in the game.
This is how the two teams compare before the second half:
The records
The Braves lost two of three against the Pirates in early June. They haven't lost a series since. Atlanta leads the NL East, 54-37 (.593) and is 28-19 at SunTrust Park.
The Dodgers hold the best record in baseball at 60-32 (.652). They are an impressive 37-12 at Chavez Ravine, despite losing three straight at home to close out the first half. Los Angeles is in firm control of the West and appear certain to win their seventh consecutive division title.
But don't be fooled by those margins. The Braves went, 43-38, at home last season; that was the worst home record among the 10 playoff teams.
Team offense
Atlanta leads the NL in runs scored. While both L.A. and Atlanta are tied in batting average, the Dodgers have a slight edge in home runs 146-143 over Atlanta. (MLB ranking in parenthesis)
Offensive leaders
All-Star first baseman Freeman and right fielder Bellinger pace their teams in most offensive categories.
Pitching stats
The Dodgers' starting rotation has among the lowest ERAs in the NL. The Braves' bullpen is in the Top 3 in ERA before the All-Star break. (MLB ranking in parenthesis)
Pitching leaders
Braves’ youngest pitchers are leading the charge.
