Veteran starting pitchers Tim Hudson and John Smoltz have both been outstanding all season long for the Braves. Smoltz continues to defy Father Time as he keeps throwing bullets up to the plate. He has started 30 games this season for the Braves and he is 14-7 with a 2.97 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. He has worked 193.2 innings this season and he has allowed 187 hits, walked 44 batters and whiffed 181. Tim Hudson is pitching like the pitcher the Braves thought they were getting from the A’s three seasons ago. He has started 32 games this season for the Braves and he is 16-8 with a 3.33 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. He has thrown 210.2 innings this season and he has allowed 205 hits, walked 50 batters and whiffed 122. Too bad the Braves didn’t have anyone step up in the rotation to support Hudson and Smoltz in the rotation or the Braves would be in better position to make a run at the playoffs. They are currently 78-73 which has them in 3rd place in the National League East, 5.5 games behind the Mets. The Braves are also currently 5.5 games behind the Padres in the Wild Card Race. It will be hard for the Braves to make the playoffs now….but it’s not impossible.

It would take a miracle now for the Braves to make the playoffs as they now must be focused on the Wild Card. The Braves are now 74-71 on the season which has them 8.5 games behind the Mets in the N.L. East. But the more important number is that they are 5 games behind the Padres for the Wild Card. The tough thing for the Braves is that they are also behind the Phillies, Dodgers and Rockies so they will need to win most of the games they have remaining on their schedule. It will be easier said than done but there is still light at the end of the tunnel.

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Many thought Andruw Jones would follow up his monster 2006 season which another stellar year because he is about to become a free agent. He might have cost himself a few bucks with the season he’s turning in. Jones is having an awful 2nd half of the season when the Braves really needed him to step up to help get them back into the hunt for the National League East. Jones has played in 52 games in the 2nd half of the season and he is 47 for 197 (.239 avg, .748 OPS) with 32 runs scored, 9 homers and 31 RBIs. Jones has now played in 140 games this season and he is only hitting .222 with 75 runs scored, 24 homers and 85 RBIs. He has not cut down on his swing to try to get out of his season long rut as he has whiffed 128 times in 519 at bats. I have a feeling that the Braves are going to let him walk away this winter.

The Atlanta Braves will need to make another run if they want to make the playoffs this season. The Braves are currently 70-68 which has them in 3rd place in the American League East, 7.5 games behind the Mets. Chipper Jones is having an outstanding season with the bat for the Braves as he is hitting .328 with 84 runs scored, 22 homers and 79 RBIs. New addition Mark Teixeira has played in 31 games for the Braves and he is hitting .322 with 21 runs, 10 homers and 32 RBIs! The pitching staff only really has had three standouts this season. Tim Hudson has definately had his best season with the Braves as he is 15-7 with a 3.32 ERA. John Smoltz just keeps rolling along for the Braves as he is 12-7 with a 3.09 ERA this year. Reliever Peter Moylan has been outstanding in a set-up role this season for the Braves as he is 4-3 with 1 save and a 1.87 ERA in 65 games.