RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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SportsMoney Skilled Atlanta Braves Could Challenge Dodgers For World Series Title By Bernie Pleskoff ,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Bernie Pleskoff is a former professional Major League Baseball scout Follow Author Aug 11, 2026, 02:00am EDT --:-- / --:-- This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . Summary The Atlanta Braves are surging in the NL East, emerging as a formidable challenger to the Dodgers for National League supremacy. Their consistent success stems from a powerful, deep lineup, notably enhanced by Ronald Acuna Jr.'s return from injury, adding significant power and speed. Key hitters like Drake Baldwin, Matt Olson, Michael Harris Jr., and Ozzie Albies provide a relentless offensive threat. Despite a rash of pitching injuries, the Braves' rotation has adapted, relying on ace Chris Sale and veteran acquisitions like Tyler Mahle and Martin Perez. Their bullpen, anchored by Raisel Iglesias and featuring multiple left-handers, offers crucial late-game relief. This well-balanced and resilient Braves squad is clearly built for a deep postseason run.
The Atlanta Braves are running away with the National League East Division.
Their closest rival, the Philadelphia Phillies, have been hovering around 8 games behind the Braves.
The defending World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers may have to relinquish their title to the surging Atlanta Braves.
The Braves success has been the result of excellent hitting, good pitching, solid defense, and the July 27 return of Ronald Acuna Jr. from his hamstring injury.
Acuna Jr. missed 38 games, and his return lengthens an already solid lineup.
Acuna Jr. once again brings his power to the Braves, as indicated by MLB.com
Consider that the Braves have five consequential hitters at the top of their everyday lineup.
Baldwin is among the best hitting catchers in Major League Baseball.
Missouristatebears.com raved about Baldwin when he was in college.
An All Star this year, Baldwin is a 20* home run hitter, with a solid batting average that hovers around the .270 mark.
Baldwin leads off, and consistently sets the table for his teammates.
A five-time All Star, the Braves are just a different team with Acuna Jr. in the lineup.
A consistent home run threat, Acuna Jr. has been plagued by knee and hamstring issues that have reduced his career playing time.
Make no mistake, with Acuna Jr. in the lineup, the Braves are a lethal team.
After playing his 900th consecutive game August 9, Olson set the record for the longest active consecutive games played in MLB.
Olson has been on a home run tear, and much of that can be attributed to Acuna Jr. hitting in front of him, and Michael Harris Jr. hitting behind him in the powerful Braves lineup.
Olson could easily touch the 40 home run mark this season.
Not many teams boast a centerfielder with the massive tools of Michael Harris Jr.
Harris Jr. can hit for average (hovering around .290) hit for power, and run.
An excellent defensive outfielder, Harris Jr. both saves runs on defense, and creates runs on offense.
One of the most underrated, and undervalued players in MLB, Harris Jr. goes about his business, scoring runs and driving in runs, while hitting behind Matt Olson.
A four-time All Star, Albies is a solid clutch hitter, and a good defender at second base.
Albies is only 5-7, 165 pounds, but he simply makes things happen.
Albies is often the forgotten man among a star-studded lineup of huge names, with big reputations.
Albies is an excellent contact hitter, putting the bat on the ball, and driving the ball to the gaps.
Albies has home run power, but his speed, and ability to drive in runs are often overlooked in the Braves lineup.
The remainder of the usual Braves lineup, as noted by fangraphs.com includes:
The bench includes catcher Sean Murphy, first baseman Dominic Smith, infielder Ha-Seong Kim, and outfielder Lane Thomas, who just came to the Braves in a trade with the Kansas City Royals.
Injuries to several of their starting pitchers required the Braves to fill-in their rotation with a group of veterans who are capable of giving their team a chance to win on a daily basis.
Consider that fangraphs.com lists starters Reynaldo Lopez (knee inflammation) Spencer Schwellenbach (arthroscopic elbow surgery) Spencer Strider (elbow inflammation) and Joey Wentz (torn knee ligament) as disabled.
-Chris Sale-LHP-Age 37 (the All Star ace of the staff)
-Tyler Mahle-RHP-Age 31 (acquired in trade from San Francisco in August)
fangraphs.com notes The bullpen is led by closer Raisel Iglesias, a right hander with 10-years of big league experience.
The pen is loaded with lefties, which allows manager Walt Weiss to attack the opposition’s left-handed hitters late in games.
The Los Angeles Dodgers could very well have a battle on their hands for National League supremacy.
The Atlanta Braves have a very well-balanced, well managed club. They could easily challenge the Dodgers for a World Series title.
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