Poised for record-setting September, Braves the definition of juggernaut

If you look up the word “juggernaut” in the dictionary, you’ll find something along the lines of the following:

“Jug·ger·naut: A huge, powerful and overwhelming force or institution.”

The Atlanta Braves, particularly their lineup, fit this description perfectly.

This is a powerhouse group of hitters that has steamrolled its way through opposing pitching, and it is on track to finish the 2023 season as one of the greatest offensive forces in MLB history.

Now that we’ve reached the final month of the season, it’s time for a breakdown of just how historic the next few weeks could be for the behemoth that is the Braves’ batting order.

Huge
You don’t have to be exceptionally large in order to slug a baseball a long way. But it helps.

The Braves have intimidating hitters of all sizes, from the 5-foot-8 Ozzie Albies to the 6-foot-5 Matt Olson. But the bigger the belter of the baseball, the more imposing to the opposing pitcher -- at least from a visual perspective.

Atlanta has no shortage there -- in addition to Olson, there is 6-foot-3, 228-pound catcher Sean Murphy and 6-foot-3, 240-pound third baseman Austin Riley.

Both are having great seasons. Murphy is having a career year in his first season with the Braves after playing his first four with the A’s. He’s got an .893 OPS with a career-high 20 home runs with just under a month to go. And Riley is doing what he’s done the past three seasons, with 32 homers and an .835 OPS.

But the history-maker could be Olson. The 29-year-old first baseman has a chance to set a new franchise record for homers in a single season. Currently with a Major League-leading 44, he needs eight more to top Andruw Jones’ 51 home runs in 2005. He’s also got an outside shot at eclipsing Eddie Mathews’ franchise record of 135 RBIs in 1953 -- Olson currently has an MLB-best 113.

Powerful
The Braves, as a team, have hit 259 home runs so far this season, a franchise record. That’s 46 more than the nearest team, the Dodgers (whose lineup is no walk in the park, either). The AL/NL record for home runs by a team in a single season is 307, held by the 2019 Twins.

This year’s Braves are currently on pace for … 308.

The power in Atlanta’s lineup is staggering. The Braves already have four players with more than 30 home runs this season -- Olson (44), Riley (32), Ronald Acu?a Jr. (32) and Marcell Ozuna (32) -- and Albies, who has 28, will likely surpass the 30-homer mark as well. That would make Atlanta the second team in AL/NL history with five players finishing a season with 30 or more homers -- joining those 2019 Twins.

And let’s not forget about those 20-somethings -- the Braves currently have seven players with at least 20 homers, including the aforementioned sluggers. Add Murphy and Eddie Rosario (20 apiece) to the list.

Another record the Braves could set in the power department is slugging percentage. Right now, the team is slugging an even .500. Yes, you read that correctly. That’s a 5 at the start.

No team in AL/NL history has finished a season with a slugging percentage higher than .495, which was where the 2019 Astros ended up. Those ’19 Twins were right behind Houston, at .494. They’re followed by the 2003 Red Sox (.491) and then three Yankees clubs -- 2019 (.490), 1927 (.489) and 1930 (.488).

Overwhelming
If you had to think of a baseball player who would fit the description of “overwhelming” to a tee, Acu?a would be at or near the top of the list.

The 25-year-old superstar outfielder is making history with every home run he hits and every base he swipes. And he's been teeing off lately. Last week, he became the first player in AL/NL history to hit 30 or more homers and steal 60 or more bases in the same season.

With 32 homers and 63 steals, Acu?a could very well inaugurate the 30-70 club, too, or even the 40-70 club if he goes on a homer binge over the last few weeks of the regular season.

For pitchers, he’s overwhelming in the batter’s box and on the base paths, a burden that has proved too much to bear for most. It also opened the eyes of many who knew Acu?a was a supremely talented five-tool player, but perhaps never saw this type of season coming.

But has Acu?a even surprised himself with what he’s doing?

“To be honest, no,” Acu?a said through an interpreter. “Because I know what I have. I know the talent and ability that God gave me. I know what I’m capable of. So, knowing all those things, it doesn’t surprise me. Hopefully we can stay on this pace and continue having the success we’ve been having as a team.”

And in that word -- “team” -- we come to our final element.

Force
The Braves have a lineup that is the stuff of nightmares for opponents, not only at the plate, but also on the mound -- we’d be remiss not to mention Spencer Strider, Max Fried, Bryce Elder and Charlie Morton, as well as a bullpen that sports the National League’s lowest ERA (3.43).

This team is a force, and it hasn’t been resting on its laurels with a huge lead in the NL East.

Another term that comes to mind when thinking about this group is “relentless.”

“The focus and chemistry of this team is amazing,” Acu?a said. “I feel like from the first day of Spring Training, we’ve taken every at-bat with focus and every pitch with focus.”

The players have been tremendous, but traits like “focus” tend to be cultivated by the individual at the helm. In the Braves' case, their evenhanded manager has been to the top of the mountain before when Atlanta won its first World Series in 26 years in 2021. Now, he has a potentially record-setting bunch that he’s kept focused on winning it all again.

“I think it just speaks volumes to the professionalism and the individuals that they are and how focused they are on today’s game,” manager Brian Snitker said. “They’re conscientious and consistent in their work. It’s just a testament to that. These guys like to play baseball.”

They sure do. And if they remain consistent with their work as they navigate the final month of the regular season, some history-making moments are imminent.