SAN DIEGO — Time for some real talk about the Atlanta Braves . They seem unlikely to catch the Philadelphia Phillies and extend their streak of six consecutive NL East titles, but could still enter the postseason better positioned for a deep postseason run than they were in either of the past two seasons. And they know it.
Advertisement Recall that the Braves’ starting pitching was dinged up and several relievers fatigued entering the past postseasons, making it a tall order to win the kind of low-scoring games they needed to win in the 2022 and 2023 NLDS against the Phillies when Atlanta’s lineup, so potent during those seasons, failed to produce in either NLDS. Now flash ahead to the present. The Braves were 10 games behind the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies on June 12 and found themselves nearly that far back a month later, despite the Phillies being without injured J.
T. Realmuto for that entire stretch and injured-list stints for Phillies sluggers Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber within that period. The Braves picked up a game Friday and are now 8 1/2 games back after winning 6-1 in their series opener at San Diego.
They got another impressive start from rookie Spencer Schwellenbach — three hits, one run allowed in a career-high seven innings — and a four-run fifth inning fueled by homers from Marcell Ozuna and Orlando Arcia . Ozuna homered again in the ninth, giving him 26 to go with a National League-leading 77 RBIs, and breaking an Atlanta-era franchise.