MLB Power Rankings: Which pitching rotation is the best in baseball?
By Phil Akre
9. Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves have squashed the notion that they are a rebuilding team. They sit at the top of the NL East standings at 33-23.
Of course, they’ve been led by young stars like Ronald Acuna and Ozzie Albies, but its starting staff has excelled this season.
Led by the staff veteran Juilo Teheran, the bunch has combined for a 3.56 ERA, seventh in baseball.
Mike Foltynewicz has been great this year, with a solid ERA of 2.55 and 69 strikeouts in 60 innings of work. He’s allowed only five home runs in that span as well.
The prize of the Andrelton Simmons trade, Sean Newcomb has looked like the real deal. In his 11 starts, he owns a 2.73 ERA, 9.2 K/9 and an insane 0.4 HR/9.
Veterans Anibal Sanchez and Brandon McCarthy haven’t put up incredible numbers or anything near them, but they’ve provided an essential quality to a young team; leadership.
The reality of it is that this is just the beginning for the Braves’. They have tons of pieces waiting in the minor leagues to make their MLB debuts.
It took a while, but it looks like the NL East is going to be the Braves’ division for years to come as a result of a young offense and solid pitching coming to the top.