After 26 games of the 2023 season, the Braves are once again off to a hot start. This time earlier than any one expected. Last year they didn’t get hot until May as they started the season 23-27 and had to work their way back into first place to off seat the New York Mets for the NL East crown. This year so far, they have remained in first place the entire 26 games with a 17-9 record.
Braves have had plenty of injuries this season so far, but have filled that void with their good depth. The team is healing now with SP Max Fried back after he tweaked his hamstring in game one versus the Washington Nationals. He missed two starts in the rotation and has been solid in his return.
Starting SS Orlando Arcia broke his wrist when he got hit by a pitch. Arcia was filling in nicely as the starter with the void of Dansby Swanson. Vaughn Grissom, who was suppose to be the starter but was outplayed by Arcia, was sent back to Triple-A Gwinnett, but since has returned. Grissom has a solid bat, but his fielding still needs improvements, the reason he was sent back to the minors.
The Braves young centerfielder, star Michael Harris II, who has showed no signs of a sophomore slump this year after winning Rookie of the Year last year, strained his back in a slide to second base. He is back as he was activated today in time for tonight’s game at the New York Mets.
This team doesn’t need the Freddie Freeman’s or Dansby Swanson’s of the world, they have their own identity now built on speed and consistency one through nine of the batting order. Any given game any player in the lineup can be the hero. What has hurt this team in their losses is not the lineup, it’s not the starting pitching, it’s the bullpen that has blown four games that the Braves were leading late in the game. That needs to improve and hopefully it will when closer Raisel Inglesias returns to the bullpen from shoulder inflammation that has kept him sidelined the entire season.
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Next Game: Tonight, Braves (17-9) @ NY Mets (15-11); 7:10pm est; Citi Field; TV: BSSO, MLBN
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