The Atlanta Braves Are The Best Team in Baseball
The 2023 MLB All-Star Break is right around the corner and the Atlanta Braves are going into the break as the best team in baseball. In 89 games, the Braves have a record of 60-29, which is six games ahead of the second-best team in baseball, the Tampa Bay Rays. Being the best team in baseball, the Braves are bringing eight all-stars (which is the most of any team) to Seattle.
The four-time World Series champions have become a machine that can beat teams with their bats or pitching depth. At the All-Star break, the Braves have 168 home runs (the most by any team at the All-Star break in MLB history), 495 runs, 70 stolen bases, a .271 overall batting average, and a 3.55 ERA.
The Atlanta Braves roster is a rolls gallery of All-Stars, Cy Young contenders, and MVP contenders. The Braves roster is led by National League MVP frontrunner, Ronald Acuna Jr. The franchise cornerstone of the Braves is having a historic start to the season. In 88 games, Acuna has a .355 average, 21 home runs, 55 RBIs, and 41 stolen bases. The outfielder became the first player in MLB history with 20+ home runs, 40+ stolen bases, and 50+ RBIs before the All-Star break.
Acuna is not the only player that is having a great season. Sean Murphy, Travis d'Arnaud, Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson and Orlando Arcia are joining Acuna in Seattle as all-stars. Whenever Acuna is having an off night, one or multiple of these players pick up the slack and dominate their opponents.
The best team in baseball is not just a great batting team but a really good pitching team. Atlanta is sending two pitchers to Seattle, Spencer Strider, and Bryce Edler. Strider is the ace of the Braves and easily is one of the best pitchers in baseball. As a starter, Strider has a record of 11-2, a 3.44 ERA, and 166 strikeouts. Even though Edler is not the ace, he is also having a great season. Edler is 7-1 as a starter and has a 2.45 ERA and 80 strikeouts.
If the Braves keep this up in the second half of the season, not only will they have home-field throughout the National League playoffs, but might be able to bring home their second World Series title in three years.