ESPN pundit says the NL East race is over, Braves can’t be caught

It was around this time in 2022 that Sal Licata infamously declared the NL East over, insisting it would be impossible for the Braves to catch the Mets, who owned a 10.5 game lead at the time.

The Braves, of course, would go on to win the division — sweeping New York in the final series of the season to cap one of the most remarkable comebacks in MLB history.

This season, the shoe is on the other foot. Despite a revolving door of injuries, the Braves have more than weathered the storm, building a 9.0 game lead in the division through the first two-plus months. They’ve been the best team in baseball since Opening Day, and there’s reason to believe they could get even better as reinforcements arrive.

Drake Baldwin — arguably the best catcher in baseball — is expected back at some point in June. Hurston Waldrep just began his rehab assignment. AJ Smith-Shawver and Spencer Schwellenbach are both expected to return at some point this season. And the Braves still have the prospect depth and financial flexibility to be major players at the trade deadline.

All of that has led ESPN’s Buster Olney to make his own declaration.

“It’s over,” Olney said on ESPN. “You’re the Atlanta Braves, they are rolling — 109-win pace. Ronald Acuña Jr. starting to heat up right now, in addition to what they are getting out of Matt Olson, in addition to what they are getting out of Michael Harris II. All around that diamond, with their rotation, they look excellent.”

The Nationals have been a fun story through the first two months, boasting one of the more exciting offenses in the league, but most still consider the Phillies to be Atlanta’s primary competition in the division. Philadelphia sits 9.5 games back and has the kind of roster capable of stringing together a lengthy winning streak at any moment.

Making up that kind of ground in four months is improbable — but far from impossible. Atlanta has had trouble staying healthy since the start of the 2024 season, and things could get very interesting if a primary starter goes down.

The Braves haven’t given anyone a reason to doubt them. They’re mashing baseballs, pairing it with elite pitching, and stand to get stronger as the season progresses. But declaring the NL East over with four months to play is wildly premature. There’s still a lot of baseball left, and everyone in Atlanta’s dugout is aware that the job is not finished.

—

(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)