The Atlanta Braves got off to a scorching hot 8-2 start to the month of June. The team is best in the league in a number of categories to start the month and is poised to own the division lead. With the Philadelphia Phillies struggling as of late, Atlanta is in prime position to rise to, and remain at the top.
The Braves will have three pivotal series in a row beginning June 14th when the Phillie's venture into SunTrust park. The New York Mets will make their way down to Atlanta for a three-game set once Philadelphia leaves town. Following that series, the Braves head to Washington to take on the Nationals, a team they struggled with last time they faced off.
Coming off a wildly competitive and entertaining series sweep at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Braves offense looks almost unstoppable. Rookie Austin Riley hit a game-tying solo home run in the bottom of the ninth keeping the Braves alive en route to a thrilling walk-off win in game three of the four-game set. The final game in the series capped off a winning streak where Atlanta scored less than six runs just once, a 1-0 victory in Miami.
The offense is not the only impressive group during this resurgence. Atlanta's pitching staff has begun to recover from the worrisome start to the year. Since acquiring relief pitcher Anthony Swarzak from the Seattle Mariners via trade, he has quietly become the bullpen stabilizer that was desperately needed. Though rookie Mike Soroka has come back down to Earth from his record-setting early career, he has still been one of the best pitchers in the National League.
2018 All-Star Mike Foltynewicz is starting to round into form after watching his ERA bloat, and Kevin Gausman is still trying to put the pieces together. Atlanta signed Dallas Keuchel on June 6th to a deal worth approximately $13 million for the remainder of the season. Keuchel is expected to be the ace of the rotation, something he is entirely capable of becoming.
Atlanta is one of the hottest teams in major league baseball while sporting one of the most electric offensive lineups. With the pitching staff improving, the hot streak is likely to last.
