The no-longer-rebuilding Braves are 13-5 since 20-year-old outfield phenom Ronald Acuna joined the team April 25, including a stunning 13-2 on the road in that stretch after finishing a 6-1 trip by winning a makeup game against the Cubs on Monday at Wrigley Field.
One of the better road stretches in franchise history, it’s vaulted the Braves into first place in the National League East and moved their overall record to a league-best 25-15.
After Monday’s game both teams caught charter flights to Atlanta, where the Braves host the Cubs tonight in the opener of a three-game series and six-game homestand that also includes a series against the skidding Marlins.
The Braves were swept by the Giants in a May 4-6 series at SunTrust Park, their only home games between a pair of highly successful three-city trips.
Here are five things to know about the remarkable run the Braves have been on since Acuna arrived and particularly what they’ve done on the road. They got hot when he joined them and have stayed hot since Acuna cooled off.
1. In the 13-2 road surge, the Braves outscored opponents 88-42, out-homered them 26-13 and had 18 stolen bases to opponents' one, with Ender Inciarte accounting for 10 Braves steals. The Braves had 58 extra-base hits in those 15 road games while batting .284 with an .840 OPS. Opponents hit .217 with a .630 OPS in the 15 games.
2. Braves starting pitchers were 10-1 with a 2.68 ERA and .215 opponents' average in the 15 road games, including a 1.80 ERA and .200 opponents' average and .580 opponents' OPS in the last dozen of those games.
3. Braves relievers had a 2.20 ERA and .220 opponents' average in the 15 road games while totaling 51 strikeouts with 19 walks in 49 innings. In the last 12 of those games, the bullpen had a 1.95 ERA with 41 strikeouts and 15 walks in 37 innings and converted all seven save opportunities.
4. Acuna has started all 18 games since arrival. The youngest position player in the majors hit .382 (13-for-34) with five doubles, two homers, five RBIs, three walks, eight strikeouts, a .432 OBP and .736 slugging percentage (1.138 OPS) in his first eight major league games.
In his past 10 games he’s hit .154 (6-for-39) with one double, one homer, one RBI, four walks, 14 strikeouts, a .250 OBP and .256 slugging percentage (.506 OPS).
5. Here's what the Braves' top hitters did in the 18 games since Acuna joined the team: Nick Markakis .387/.432/.613 (1.045 OPS) with four homers, 16 RBIs; Freddie Freeman .357/.432/.614 (1.046 OPS) with four homers, 14 RBIs; Ozzie Albies .280/.307/.598 (.904 OPS) with seven homers, 19 RBIs.
