MLB: Ranking the Top 10 Teams Right Now
3) Atlanta Braves
Aug 18, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel (46) celebrates to getting the save with catcher Gerald Laird (11) in the ninth inning against the Washington Nationals at Turner Field. The Braves won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
Most people would probably have the Braves as the top team in Major League Baseball. After All they have the mot wins (76), and they have some of the best pitching stats. Here’s why they aren’t number one on my list. Now don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot to be said about a team that has the most wins in the major leagues, the problem is, with the exception of St. Louis, most of those wins have been against teams with losing records.
The Braves are a very good team in what is the weakest division, the NL East. The good pitching stats I eluded to earlier may be a misnomer. That’s because if we look at the batting of the other teams in Atlanta’s division, you’ll see that none of those teams are even close to being the best-hitting team in baseball. Take the Washington Nationals for instance; they are in second place and 15.5 games out of first. Their batting average is ranked 23rd in the major leagues. With hitting that poor in the NL Central, it’s no wonder Atlanta’s pitching has done as well as it has.