Atlanta Braves' Historic Start Puts Them in Rare Franchise Company

The Atlanta Braves are doing something they haven't done in over two decades.

At 43-21 through their first 64 games, Atlanta owns the best record in all of baseball and has built an 8.5-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East.

It is only the fourth time in franchise history that the Braves have won at least 43 of their first 64 games, joining the 2003, 1998 and 1994 teams in that rare company.

What makes the start even more striking is where Atlanta was just twelve months ago.

The Braves went 76-86 in 2025 and missed the playoffs entirely, ending a run that saw the franchise reach the postseason in seven straight years.

Longtime manager Brian Snitker stepped down after the season, and the front office brought in Walt Weiss to reset things heading into 2026.

The early returns under Weiss have been better than anyone in Atlanta could have expected.

The numbers show it on both sides of the ball.

Atlanta leads all of Major League Baseball with a .276 team batting average and an .806 OPS.

Matt Olson has been the engine behind the lineup with 17 home runs, 46 RBI and a .901 OPS, and Drake Baldwin emerged as one of the more exciting young catchers in the sport before landing on the injured list, posting a .931 OPS with 13 home runs through his first two months.

Michael Harris II has matched Baldwin's home run total while driving in 37 runs, and five Braves players have posted a WAR of at least 2.0.

The pitching has carried its weight just as well.

Atlanta's bullpen leads the sport with a 2.99 ERA and 1.08 WHIP, while the starting rotation sits fourth in MLB with a 3.27 ERA.

Chris Sale has been everything the Braves hoped for and the depth behind him has held up even with multiple arms sidelined.

Perhaps the most exciting part of this run is that the Braves are nowhere near full strength.

Raisel Iglesias, who was a perfect 11-for-11 in save chances before landing on the injured list with a shoulder issue, has been throwing off the mound and could return in the coming weeks.

Spencer Schwellenbach has started throwing on flat ground as he works his way back from an elbow injury, and Hurston Waldrep recently began a rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League.

Baldwin could rejoin the lineup as soon as the June 16-21 homestand.

If health cooperates, this team has the pieces to make a serious October run.

The Braves are on pace to win 109 games, which would set a franchise record, and the group doing all of this right now could still get reinforcements in the weeks ahead.

For a club that looked lost a year ago, the 2026 Braves are playing like the best team in baseball and they still have room to get even better.