Poised for record-setting September, Braves the definition of juggernaut

If you lookup the phrase “juggernaut” within the dictionary, you’ll discover one thing alongside the traces of the next:

“Jug·ger·naut: A huge, powerful and overwhelming force or institution.”

The Atlanta Braves, notably their lineup, match this description completely.

This is a powerhouse group of hitters that has steamrolled its approach via opposing pitching, and it’s on monitor to complete the 2023 season as one of many biggest offensive forces in MLB historical past. 

Now that we’ve reached the ultimate month of the season, it’s time for a breakdown of simply how historic the following few weeks may very well be for the behemoth that’s the Braves’ batting order.

Huge
You don’t should be exceptionally giant with the intention to slug a baseball a great distance. But it helps.

The Braves have intimidating hitters of all sizes, from the 5-foot-8 Ozzie Albies to the 6-foot-5 Matt Olson. But the larger the belter of the baseball, the extra imposing to the opposing pitcher — not less than from a visible perspective.

Atlanta has no scarcity there — along with Olson, there may be 6-foot-3, 228-pound catcher Sean Murphy and 6-foot-3, 240-pound third baseman Austin Riley.

Both are having nice seasons. Murphy is having a profession yr in his first season with the Braves after taking part in his first 4 with the A’s. He’s acquired an .893 OPS with a career-high 20 dwelling runs with just below a month to go. And Riley is doing what he’s executed the previous three seasons, with 32 homers and an .835 OPS.

But the history-maker may very well be Olson. The 29-year-old first baseman has an opportunity to set a brand new franchise document for homers in a single season. Currently with a Major League-leading 44, he wants eight extra to high Andruw Jones’ 51 dwelling runs in 2005. He’s additionally acquired an out of doors shot at eclipsing Eddie Mathews’ franchise document of 135 RBIs in 1953 — Olson at present has an MLB-best 113.

Powerful
The Braves, as a crew, have hit 259 dwelling runs to this point this season, a franchise document. That’s 46 greater than the closest crew, the Dodgers (whose lineup isn’t any stroll within the park, both). The AL/NL document for dwelling runs by a crew in a single season is 307, held by the 2019 Twins.

This yr’s Braves are at present on tempo for … 308.

The energy in Atlanta’s lineup is staggering. The Braves have already got 4 gamers with greater than 30 dwelling runs this season — Olson (44), Riley (32), Ronald Acuña Jr. (32) and Marcell Ozuna (32) — and Albies, who has 28, will seemingly surpass the 30-homer mark as properly. That would make Atlanta the second crew in AL/NL historical past with 5 gamers ending a season with 30 or extra homers — becoming a member of these 2019 Twins.

And let’s not neglect about these 20-somethings — the Braves at present have seven gamers with not less than 20 homers, together with the aforementioned sluggers. Add Murphy and Eddie Rosario (20 apiece) to the record.

Another document the Braves may set within the energy division is slugging share. Right now, the crew is slugging an excellent .500. Yes, you learn that accurately. That’s a 5 firstly.

No crew in AL/NL historical past has completed a season with a slugging share larger than .495, which was the place the 2019 Astros ended up. Those ’19 Twins have been proper behind Houston, at .494. They’re adopted by the 2003 Red Sox (.491) after which three Yankees golf equipment — 2019 (.490), 1927 (.489) and 1930 (.488).

Overwhelming
If you had to think about a baseball participant who would match the outline of “overwhelming” to a tee, Acuña can be at or close to the highest of the record.

With 32 homers and 63 steals, Acuña may very properly inaugurate the 30-70 membership, too, and even the 40-70 membership if he goes on a homer binge over the previous couple of weeks of the common season.

For pitchers, he’s overwhelming within the batter’s field and on the bottom paths, a burden that has proved an excessive amount of to bear for many. It additionally opened the eyes of many who knew Acuña was a supremely proficient five-tool participant, however maybe by no means noticed one of these season coming.

But has Acuña even shocked himself with what he’s doing?

“To be honest, no,” Acuña stated via an interpreter. “Because I know what I have. I know the talent and ability that God gave me. I know what I’m capable of. So, knowing all those things, it doesn’t surprise me. Hopefully we can stay on this pace and continue having the success we’ve been having as a team.”

And in that phrase — “team” — we come to our last component.

Force
The Braves have a lineup that’s the stuff of nightmares for opponents, not solely on the plate, but in addition on the mound — we’d be remiss to not point out Spencer Strider, Max Fried, Bryce Elder and Charlie Morton, in addition to a bullpen that sports the National League’s lowest ERA (3.43).

Another time period that involves thoughts when fascinated with this group is “relentless.”

“The focus and chemistry of this team is amazing,” Acuña stated. “I feel like from the first day of Spring Training, we’ve taken every at-bat with focus and every pitch with focus.”

The gamers have been great, however traits like “focus” are typically cultivated by the person on the helm. In the Braves’ case, their evenhanded supervisor has been to the highest of the mountain earlier than when Atlanta gained its first World Series in 26 years in 2021. Now, he has a doubtlessly record-setting bunch that he’s stored centered on successful all of it once more.

“I think it just speaks volumes to the professionalism and the individuals that they are and how focused they are on today’s game,” supervisor Brian Snitker stated. “They’re conscientious and consistent in their work. It’s just a testament to that. These guys like to play baseball.”

They positive do. And if they continue to be in step with their work as they navigate the ultimate month of the common season, some history-making moments are imminent.