Since May 31, every team in the National League East has been looking up at the Atlanta Braves. How the Braves have managed to climb to the top has been a bit surprising.
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Other than some decent pitching from Tim Hudson (13-5, 2.24 ERA), the rest of the starting staff has been mediocre at best. Derek Lowe is 11-9 with a 4.40 ERA. Tommy Hanson is 8-8 with a 3.51 ERA. Jair Jurrjens, back from a midseason injury, has gone 4-4 with a 4.16 ERA in 13 starts. Closer Billy Wagner has 28 saves and a 1.78 ERA. He also has blown seven save opportunities.
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Last updated:15-08-2010 from 18:05 until 21:15 (gmt)
MLB Regular Season 2010
At the plate, only All-Stars Martin Prado (.315, 13 HRs, 43 RBI) and Omar Infante (.330, 3 HRs, 29 RBI), a utility man who has played in 86 games, are hitting over .300. Atlanta ranks 19th in batting average (.257), 20th in homers (101) and right in the middle of the pack at 14th in RBI (493).
But whatever glue that has kept the Braves atop the standings might soon begin coming undone.
On Tuesday, Atlanta lost third baseman and captain Chipper Jones, 38, to a season-ending injury when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee fielding a ground ball in Houston. Jones wasn't having a typical season for a former MVP and batting champion, hitting .265 with 10 homers and 46 RBI. But he still meant a lot to the Braves.
``There's no denying the presence he had in the middle of our lineup,'' general manager Frank Wren told reporters Thursday. ``His presence in our lineup has been increasing based on his performance the last couple of months. He was a force. So, yeah, we're losing a lot.''
The Braves could go out and try to trade for Chone Figgins or Ty Wiggington through waivers.
But that probably still will not be enough to keep the surging Phillies off their heels.
Philadelphia, seven games back July 22, crept to within two games of the Braves after Thursday's thrilling come-from-behind victory against the Dodgers.
The four-time defending division champions have lost a number of key players to injuries this season.
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