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Updates
2023 Season
October 1, 2023: Matt Olson finished the year with 54 home runs to set a new team record. Andruw Jones held the old record with 51. Olson also passed Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews for the most RBIs in Braves history, with 139.
September 27, 2023: Ronald Acuna Jr. stole his 70th base against the Cubs to become the first player in history with 40 homers and 70 steals in the same season. Moments later, he scored the winning run on a walk-off hit by Ozzie Albies.
August 1, 2023: Spence Strider broke his own record when he struck out his 200th batter in 123 1/3 innings. He set a record in 2022 when he reached 200 in inning number 130.
May 10, 2023: Kenly Jansen saved the 400th game of his career. He became the seventh pitcher with 400 saves.
Season Preview: The Braves will have their work cut out for them in the super-tough NL East, but most experts pick them to win the division. Their big move over the winter was a trade for Sean Murphy, an excellent all-around catcher. Otherwise, they plan to let their young stars play. Ronald Acuna, Matt Olsen, Austin Riley, Michael Harris, and Ozzie Albies give the team an awesome batting order. Spencer Strider, Max Fried, and Charlie Morton lead a pitching staff that includes a deep bullpen. Most of the Braves’ top prospects are in the big leagues now, but there are still some quality players in the minors if the team needs help.
2022 Season
Season Recap: The Braves were one of baseball’s best teams in the second half of 2022, making them a hot pick to win the World Series. That dream ended in the Division Series with a three-game sweep by the Phillies. Atlanta finished with 101 wins thanks to superb pitching by Kyle Wright, who led the NL with 21 victories, and Max Fried, who was an All-Star for the first time. The Braves also got amazing seasons from a pair of rookies, Michael Harris and Spencer Strider. Austin Riley led the club with 38 homers, newcomer Matt Olsen was tops with 103 RBIs, and Ronald Acuna recovered from a serious injury to swipe a team-high 29 bases.
October 04, 2022: Michael Harris was named NL Rookie of the Month for September. It was the third time in 2022 that Harris won the award.
September 18, 2022: Rookie spencer Strider became the fastest ever to strike out 200 batters. He fanned number 200 in his 130th inning. The previous record was set by Hall of Famer Randy Johnson.
Season Preview: When a World Series champion loses a team leader like Freddie Freeman, winning another title is almost impossible. However, the Braves have enough talent to make it happen. They traded for Matt Olson to replace Freeman at first base and are rock-solid at all of the other positions—including slugger Auston Riley at third and NL RBI leader Adam Duvall in center field. Marcell Ozuna returns following a suspension and Ozzie Albies looks like a possible MVP candidate. Atlanta’s pitching looks good, with Max Fried and Charlie Morton atop the rotation and Will Smith heading up a rebuilt bullpen.
2021 Season
Season Preview: Atlanta and New York should go down to the wire in their battle for the NL East crown. The Braves have a lights-out pitching staff starring Ian Anderson, Charlie Morton, Max Fried, and Mike Soroka, along with sluggers Freddie Freeman, Marcell Ozuna, and Ronald Acuna Jr.
2020 Season
November 12, 2020: Freddie Freeman was named National League Most Valuable Player. He joined Chipper Jones (1999), Terry Pendleton (1991), Dale Murphy (1982 & 83) as Braves’ MVPs since the club moved to Atlanta in 1966.
Season Recap: The Braves won the NL East and powered their way to a 3 -games-to-1 lead over the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. Atlanta could not seal the deal, however, and lost the series in 7 games. It was a disappointing finish to an exciting season. The offense was led by young Ronald Acuna Jr. and two veteran stars, Freddie Freeman and Marcell Ozuna. Freeman led the NL in runs and doubles, while Ozuna led in home runs, RBIs and total bases. Pitcher Max Fried was unbeaten in 11 starts, going 7–0, and veteran Mark Melancon did a good job as the team’s closer.
September 9, 2020: Adam Duvall hit three homers in a game for the second time in 8 days to lead Atlanta to a 29–9 win over the Marlins. The 29 runs were the most scored by a National League club since 1900. Duvall became the only player to homer with one man on, two men on, and three men on—in that order.
September 1, 2020: Marcell Ozuna socked three balls over the wall against the Red Sox. He was the first National League player in history to hit three homers at Fenway Park.
Season Preview: No team has more exciting young stars than the Braves. Ronald Acuna Jr., Ozzie Albies, and Mike Soroka are all under 25. Freddie Freeman, Max Fried, Dansby Swanson and newcomer Marcell Ozuna are all 30 or younger. There isn’t much room for error in a 60-game season, so Atlanta will have to get off to a good start to win the NL East.
2019 Season
Season Recap: Atlanta’s young pitchers got the job done all year and the team had a great mix of young and old players in the everyday lineup. Veterans Freddie Freeman, Josh Donaldson, Nick Markakis led young stars Ozzie Albies, Dansby Swanson, and Ronald Acuna Jr. into battle as the club won 97 games. Mike Soroka and Max Fried were the Braves’ best hurlers, but the pitching did not hold up against the Cardinals in the playoffs, as Atlanta lost 3 games to 2.
August 23, 2019: Ronald Acuna Jr. stole his 30th base of the year against the Mets. Having already belted 36 homers, he became the youngest National Leaguer ever to join the 30–30 club.
Season Preview: The Braves were surprise winners of the NL East in 2018. They won’t surprise anyone in 2019. The league now knows their young stars Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuna—and veteran slugger Freddie Freeman—so Atlanta will have to keep improving to win again. The pitching staff is the club’s greatest weakness, but there are some good young arms ready to blossom. Whether they do so this season remains to be seen.
2018 Season
Season Recap: The young Braves were the surprise team in the early part of the season, and ket up their pace all year to win the NL East. Ozzie Albies and Freddy Freeman led a good lineup that grew stronger with the arrival of rookie Ronald Acuna, who hit a team-high 26 homers in just 111 games. Mike Foltynewicz and Sean Newcomb led a young pitching staff to a 90-win season, but they could not hold off the more experienced Dodgers in the opening round of the playoffs.
August 27, 2018: Rookie Ronald Acuna hit his 20th homer against the Pirates. Acuna and second baseman Ozzie Albies became the first teammates in history to hit 20 homers in the same season before turning 22.
Season Preview: The Braves are oozing with young talent, and history says they won’t be afraid to throw their prospects into action at the big-league level. The DP duo of Dansby Swanson and Ozzie Albies has All-Star possibilities, while veterans Ender Inciarte and Freddie Freeman are proven run-producers. Outfielder Ronald Acuna is one of the brightest rookies in the league. If the Braves’ young pitchers hold their own, Atlanta fans could be buying tickets for the postseason.
2017 Season
Season Recap: The Braves played much better than their 72–90 record suggests. The team kept games close and got solid seasons out of Arodys Vizcaino, Matt Adams, Ozzie Albies, Ender Inciarte, and Freddie Freeman, who missed two months with a broken wrist.
April 4, 2017: The Braves played their first game in SunTrust Park in Cumberland, Georgia. They defeated the Padres, 5–2. Ender Inciarte recorded the first hit in the team’s new stadium.
August 3, 2017: Nick Markakis collected his 2,000th career hit in a game against the Dodgers.
2016 Season
November 1, 2016: After a poor first half, the Braves were tough to beat in the second half. Freddie Freeman had a great year and shortstop Dansby Swanson hit .300 in his rookie season. Young pitchers Mike Foltynewicz and Julio Teheran gave fans hope for an exciting 2017.
October 5, 2016: The Braves had a successful rebuilding year. They developed several young pitchers, including Matt Wisler and Mike Foltynewicz, and were tough to beat in September. Freddie Freeman had his best season, leading Atlanta with 34 homers, 91 RBIs, 102 runs, and a .302 average.
2015 Season
October 14, 2015: The Braves set aside 2015 as a rebuilding year, and it showed in the end with a fourth-place finish. Their bright spots including solid seasons from pitchers Shelby Miller and Julio Teheran, and hitters Freddie Freeman and Andrelton Simmons.
April 5, 2015: The Braves are putting a number of untested players on the field in 2015, but there is no lack of talent in Atlanta. Shortstop Andrelton Simmons and first baseman Freddie Freeman are two of the top infielders in the NL, and newcomers Nick Markakis is a dangerous hitter. Atlanta’s pitching staff is led by Julio Teheran and Shelby Miller, who came in a winter trade for Jason Heyward.
2014 Season
November 1, 2014: The Braves finished under .500 for only the third time in 20 years. Their offense was not consistent, nor was their pitching. However, the future looks bright thanks to the up-and-coming who saw plenty of playing time in 2014, including Christian Bethancourt, Tommy La Stella, and Alex Wood.
September 28, 2014: Craig Kimbrel led the NL in saves with 47. He became the first pitcher to lead the league in saves four years in a row since Bruce Sutter in 1982.
April 8, 2014: The team wore throwback uniforms on this day to commemorate Henry Aaron’s 715th home run 40 years earlier.
March 31, 2014: Pitching injuries have many Atlanta fans ready for a disappointing season, but they also know you can never count the Braves out—especially with Craig Kimbrel closing games out of the bullpen. Freddie Freeman is an elite hitter and Jason Heyward isn’t far behind. If the Upton brothers and Dan Uggla turn in good years, the Braves could sneak into first place—or at least snag a Wild Card spot.
2013 Season
December 9, 2013: Former manager Bobby Cox was elected to the Hall of Fame. His record with Atlanta was 2,149–1,709. Cox won four pennants and one World Series as manager of the Braves. He manged the team twice, from 1978–1981 and again from 1990–2010.
October 1, 2013: The Braves entered 2013 with great uncertainty about their lineup. As the season wore on, it became clear that they had quality players in Chris Johnson, Evan Gattis, Julio Teheran, and Mike Minor. This quartet helped the Braves grab a hold of first place in April, and they never let go. Freddie Freeman was the team’s star of star, proving that he was one of baseball’s finest clutch hitters. Craig Kimbrel was money in the bank in the ninth inning for Atlanta, with 50 saves. Atlanta made it to the playoffs, but fell to the Dodgers in the first round.
August 21, 2013: Craig Kimbrel reached 40 saves for the third year in a row. He is the first player with 40 saves in each of his first three big-league seasons.
March 30, 2013: Baseball brothers B.J. and Justin Upton lead the Braves into battle in 2013—the first season since the mid-1990s that fans will not see Chipper Jones’s name written on the lineup card. Tim Hudson leads a quality pitching staff, and there is more help on the way in the minor leagues, where the Braves are loaded with pitching prospects.
2012 Season
October 6, 2012: The Braves got great pitching all year and finished with 94 victories. That earned the team a spot in the Wild Card game, but they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals 6–3. All-time great Chipper Jones used the season to make a “farewell” tour and received loud ovations wherever he played. Jones retired as the only switch-hitter in history with 2,500 hits, 1,500 RBIs, 1,500 runs, and 1,500 walks. Jones and Hall of Famer Frankie Frisch are the only switch-hitters with a .300 average from both sides of the plate.
October 3, 2012: The Braves beat the New York Mets behind the pitching of Chris Medlen. It was the 23rd victory in a row for Atlanta in games started by Medlen. That broke the record of 22 games, shared by Hall of Famers Carl Hubbell and Whitey Ford. Medlen was the NL Pitcher of the Month for August and September.
April, 2012: The team’s 2011 shortstop, Alex Gonzalez, signed a free agent contract with the Milwaukee Brewers over the winter. That means veteran Jack Wilson and rookie Tyler Pastornicky will probably compete for the 2012 job in Spring Training. Pastornicky was a .300 hitter in the minor leagues last summer.
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League Leaders
Playing for the Championship
YEAR | OPPONENT | RESULT |
---|---|---|
1914 | Philadelphia A’s | Won 4–0 |
1948 | Cleveland Indians | Lost 4–2 |
1957 | New York Yankees | Won 4–3 |
1958 | New York Yankees | Lost 4–3 |
1991 | Minnesota Twins | Lost 4–3 |
1992 | Toronto Blue Jays | Lost 4–2 |
1995 | Cleveland Indians | Won 4–2 |
1996 | New York Yankees | Lost 4–2 |
1999 | New York Yankees | Lost 4–0 |