Freddie FreemanIn the bottom of the fourth innings, runners with two outs and at first and second base, respectively, stepped to the plate. Atlanta BravesAnd Miami MarlinsAt 2.
This is the perfect Freeman situation. With runners in scoring positions in 2021 and a hitting percentage of.337, he entered the game. He was able to hit.423 in the last season and an amazing.885 during his rookie year. In 2019, he hit.358. Freeman is likely to make a good play when he steps up with the runner at second. You can’t pitch to him with first base empty, but you won’t be able to do so if there are runners on second and third.
As Marlins pitcher, you don’t want to be behind by 3-1. Paul CampbellDid you throw the 3-1? cookie in the middle of the plate? Freeman unleashed a 110-mph laser right-center to home plate for a three run shot. This drive had an expected batting average.980. It makes one wonder about the 2 percent chance that an out might be possible. It would be interesting if Ken Griffey Jr. were standing at the wall, holding onto a fishing line.
Freeman was the Braves’ lone survivor, and they racked up 12-2 wins over the Marlins. Ozzie AlbiesWith three runs apiece, he led the 14-hit slam. With the Mets losing quickly, the National League East has become a race between Atlanta (and Philadelphia) and the Braves have finally begun to look like the team that many were expecting to see in spring training. You can find them here. Ronald Acuna Jr. Atlanta’s infield power-hitting is the leader of the season. Freeman is third baseman with 26 home runs. Austin RileyThere are 25 Shortstops Dansby SwansonAlbies is at 22 and has 24. The four infielders combined have hit.320, with 15 home runs and 48 RBIs, as well as 49 runs. Swanson is the most popular, hitting.379 and scoring four home runs. He also has 15 RBIs.
Eric Karabell, Tristan Cockcroft and I discussed on ESPN Fantasy Focus Baseball Podcast that each of the four players has a chance at hitting 30 home runs. Four players have never hit 30 home runs together in a season for 14 different teams. And, you might be surprised to learn that none of those four were accompanied by four other infielders. This is a group that has the potential to be one among the most powerful infields.
ESPN Stats & Information’s Jared Berson informed that only one team has even had all four primary infielders reach 25 home runs, which will be shoo-in for the Braves’ four sluggers. No, they were not the Marlins. Shortstop Hanley Ramirez scored 33 runs, Mike Jacobs, Dan Uggla and Dan Uggla each hit 32. Jorge Cantu was 29th. Cantu actually scored eight home runs as a first-baseman. The season totals of the Marlins were thus 40 at first, 33 at second, 34 at shortstop, and 23 at third — 130 for all four positions.
Houston has a record of 99 home runs, so the Braves could be close to Houston’s. They’re currently on pace for 135. More importantly, they are now 1½ games up on the Phillies.
The Braves struggled even when Acuna had been healthy. After losing their four first games, they spent four months trying and failing to reach.500. They were at.500 at 4, 12, 12, 17, 17-17, 24-24 and 29-29, but lost all six of the games which would have resulted in a winning record. Game Number. Acuna actually went down in game 88. This season was characterized by too many injuries, too many losses and extra innings.
The Braves won the Aug. 3 game against the Cardinals 7-4, to make it 54-54. They scored three runs in their eighth inning. The Cardinals were defeated 8-4 the following night by the Braves, who scored six runs in the eighth with just two outs.Austin RileyAfter hitting a tie-breaking home run, the St. Louis bullpen let a hit, hit one batter, and then they allowed five consecutive walks. The Braves were able to get going after those two games.
Perhaps things have turned around since July 30th, when Alex Anthopoulos purchased outfielders. Jorge SolerAnd Adam DuvallOn the trade deadline day, help to patch a group lacking Acuna Marcell Ozuna. The Braves won the July 31 game against the Brewers. Soler went 3-for-4, while Swanson scored two runs. Soler’s batting average is a respectable.250/.373/.464 after joining the Braves. Duvall, on the other hand, has struck five home runs in his first 12 games with 11 RBIs.
This lineup is now similar to the 2020 powerhouse lineup, which averaged 5.80 runs per games. It was second only to the Dodgers in majors by one run and best in franchise history.
While hitting is just half the game of baseball, pitching has performed much better over the 12-3, including that July 31 victory, when the ERA was 3.35. Relief pitcher Richard RodriguezThe bullpen has seen a significant boost thanks to another acquisition made before the deadline. Nine scoreless innings have been achieved. Tyler Matzek, a dominant bullpen arm in 2020, has also been much sharper of late, allowing just one hit with 11 strikeouts in 6⅔ innings during this stretch.
Monday starter Touki ToussaintThese final weeks will be crucial for Toussaint, who is regarded as an important key. While the Braves may have gone through 11 starters over the past few weeks, Toussaint has provided some stability in the back of the rotation following his recall from minors on July 20, 2017. He only had one poor start, but he has allowed at least two earned runs in five of his other starts.
On Tuesday, the Braves get an additional boost. Huascar YnoaThe rotation is rejoined. He was a right-hander at 23 years old. His 3.02 ERA from eight starts had impressed him early in the season. Then he punched the dugout bench and broke his right hand. Talking to reporters Monday, he said that he returned to the game a more mature individual. Because he had essentially built his arm in his rehabilitation assignment, he won’t be limited to a pitch count.
All of the preseason favorite divisions suddenly look stronger than they had been all season. Jeff Passan collapsed in this pieceAlthough the Phillies may have the best remaining schedule among playoff contenders, it is not likely that they will be able to capture their fourth division title. The Braves have a better run differential of plus-82 runs than the Phillies’ negative-82. Given the four-man slugging attack, I pick the Braves to win the division.
ESPN Stats & Information contributed to this story.