It’s a good time to be a Braves fan. They are smack dab in the middle of their championship window — this might be the best team in Braves franchise history — and they’re playing like it to begin their 2023 campaign.
Atlanta has won 22 of their first 32 games, opening up a considerable six-game lead in what was supposed to be a competitive NL East. They own the best record in the National League, and a primary reason for that has been their success on the road.
Following their sweep of the Marlins, the Braves now own a 15-3 record on the road, the best mark in the majors. Surprisingly, they are only 7-7 at home, but given how much success they’ve had at Truist Park in recent years, that’s bound to change as the season progresses.
Perhaps the wildest part of the Braves blazing start to 2023 is all the injuries they’ve been able to overcome. Max Fried, Kyle Wright, Michael Harris II, Raisel Iglesias, Collin McHugh, Travis d’Arnaud, and Orlando Arcia have all spent time on the IL at one point or another. That’s multiple All-Stars, the reigning NL Rookie of the Year, and several other starters.
The Braves haven’t been anywhere close to full strength all season. Injuries are inevitable over a 162-game campaign, which is why depth is so important, and the Braves have proven early on that nobody is able to roll with the punches as well as they can.
It’s a testament to what Alex Anthopoulos has built in Atlanta. It doesn’t matter where the game is played or who is on the injured list. When the Braves are on the field, they expect to win.
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Photo: Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire
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