Braves receive encouraging 64.2% NL East projection from ESPN

The Atlanta Braves haven't been playing their best baseball recently, and that can be best seen by the Philadelphia Phillies and Miami Marlins climbing back into the NL East race.

The Phillies are just 2.0 games back of the Braves, and the Marlins are 4.0 games back. With half a season to go, the Braves could easily lose their NL East lead.

But the Braves received an encouraging projection from ESPN's Bradford Doolittle, with the Braves at a solid 64.2% chance of winning the NL East despite recent surges from the Phillies and Marlins.

Braves receive encouraging 64.2% NL East projection from ESPN

"Record: 55-40 | Projected final record: 92-70. Division title odds: 64.2% | Playoff odds: 92.8% | Championship odds: 6.7%," Doolittle projects.

This series of projections for the Braves has the franchise in great shape to make the postseason, and in a good spot when it comes to winning the NL East.

While they've lost some of their lead, with the Phillies resurgence after a 9-19 start to the year having them just 2.0 games back at the All-Star break, the Braves are still favored to win the division.

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They've struggled without Ronald Acuna Jr., but he should be coming back not too long after the All-Star break. If they could get some help at the trade deadline in the outfield, at shortstop, and/or in the starting rotation, they could be in even better shape.

Chris Sale is a Cy Young candidate again, Drake Baldwin, Matt Olson, and Ozzie Albies were All-Stars, and the Braves are also getting good production from their bullpen.

If they can get healthier and add some help at the deadline, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Braves start to pull away from the Phillies and Marlins in the NL East as July, August, and September roll along.

They currently have a 64.2% chance of winning the NL East, and that easily could increase between now and the August 3 trade deadline.

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