The Atlanta Braves tricked us in the early stages of the season.
Ronald Acuna Jr. was still injured, some of the reinforcements hadn’t hit their stride, and they were in the first few games of the post-Freddie Freeman era, so the reigning World Series champions lost a lot of games in April and didn’t look like contenders.
But the beauty of the 162-game MLB season is that good teams often find a way to show their talent sooner or later.
Everybody can go through a good or a bad stretch, but talent usually wins out, and the Braves have plenty.
The team is currently streaking, and after watching the Mets lead the NL East by a wide margin for most of the campaign, they are officially in their rearview mirror.
“Atlanta wins again, 7-6 over the #SFGiants, and is now just 4 games behind the #Mets in the NL East. The last time Atlanta was within 4 games of NY was April 23, just two weeks into the season. Atlanta is 18-3 in June, with the #Dodgers and Freddie Freeman coming to town next,” Bob Nightengale tweeted.
Atlanta wins again, 7-6 over the #SFGiants, and is now just 4 games behind the #Mets in the NL East. The last time Atlanta was within 4 games of NY was April 23, just two weeks into the season. Atlanta is 18-3 in June, with the #Dodgers and Freddie Freeman coming to town next.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) June 23, 2022
The Mets Should Be Worried
For the Mets, it’s officially time to start worrying.
The Braves are already 41-30, winning seven of their last 10.
The Mets are very good on their own right, sure, but they don’t have Max Scherzer or Jacob deGrom; while the Braves are just hitting their stride.
Scherzer will return this weekend or next week, tops, but deGrom is still a few weeks away.
By the time he returns, the Braves could be much, much closer, or in front of the Mets already.
The race will be fascinating all season long, but the Braves seem determined to pile up wins.
New York should do the same, too.
NEXT: Max Fried Picks Up A Victory Over The Braves