The Braves won five consecutive games through Sunday to finally push their record above break-even. They pitched, hit and defended well at the same time. They’re getting healthier. The three major statistical projections agree the Braves are no worse than a 50-50 shot to make the playoffs.
But it’s still too early for me to say the Braves have turned things around. I need to see more. And I say that as someone who remained optimistic about their chances even as they lost more than they won. One good weekend in Denver is a good start for the Braves only if they follow through, which they’ve had trouble doing all season.
The Braves won two extra-inning games at the Rockies over the weekend, and there’s luck involved in those. The Braves still have only three effective starting pitchers. They aren’t getting much production from three of their lineup spots. There don’t appear to be any simple solutions to those problems. The Braves just need more of their guys to play better.
