There happens to be a lot of buzz in Atlanta right now and it isn’t because the NCAAB Championship Game was played. It’s the Atlanta Braves and they are dominating early on in the season. Sure, they only have beaten the Phillies, Cubs and Marlins thus far but the pitchers they have beat says a lot. Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay and Jeff Samardzija just to name a few.
Justin Upton is one of the main reason that the Braves have won a major league high six games. He has hit six home runs in seven games, including a walk off home run on Saturday night. His six homers is the most in baseball to this point. Upton is also batting .423 which puts him in the top ten in all of baseball. He is also in the top ten for RBIs with eight.
The weird part about this Atlanta Braves team is that they haven’t had much of any production from anyone else on their team. Jason Heyward only has two hits, one of which is a home run. Andrelton Simmons has been out since the weekend series against the Cubs due to a pinky injury. (He is now starting at shortstop again.) Finally, power hitter, Freddie Freeman was placed on the 15-day DL with an oblique injury.
The question that remains is whether or not the Braves are the “real deal?” The pitchers have looked phenomenal even though the bats haven’t really been there. This is an extremely good sign for this team. The bats will come around and with Justin Upton carrying the team for the past seven games, he will soon pass the bouton.
This team could look very scary after the All-Star break is over. Brandon Beachy will return to the rotation and if Paul Maholm continues to pitch like an ace, this team has four legitimate top end rotation pitchers. Mike Minor, Paul Maholm and Kris Medlen are all in the top six for lowest ERA since the 2012 All-Star break. You throw this in with one of the best bullpens in baseball and you’re looking at a World Series contending team.
In conclusion, this team is going to live and die by what their bats produce. If J. Upton is the only consistent hitter, the Braves will have a tough year. That is one way of looking at it but if you look at the names up and down this lineup, it is hard to think these bats will continue to sleep. Look for this team to start clicking in all the right ways and make a run for the NL East title.