The Atlanta Braves are already 8.5 games ahead of the Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals for first place in the NL East ahead of Tuesday night's matchup with the Seattle Mariners, which is as good a start as fans could've asked for. However, they will be even better if third baseman Austin Riley plays to his potential.

The 29-year-old is hitting just .213 with a .657 OPS, five homers, and 22 RBIs over 36 games thus far. Meanwhile, he has a career .268 batting average with an .819 OPS across 857 contests.

Luckily for the Braves, plenty of other hitters have stepped up. Five of their players have an .800-plus OPS, and their pitching staff has a collective 3.25 ERA. That's more than enough production to produce one of baseball's best teams over the first month-and-a-half of the season.

However, Riley is a key piece, and Atlanta needs him to get going at some point. The Mississippi native is in the fourth season of a 10-year, $212 million contract ($21.2 million AAV), so it's banking on him to produce.

On the bright side, the fact that Atlanta has the NL's top record at 25-11 despite its highest-paid player struggling shows the squad's upside. Riley tops the roster this year with a $21.2 million salary, while star first baseman Matt Olson is second at $21 million, per Spotrac.

Additionally, the Braves haven't been at full strength. No. 2 starting pitcher Spencer Strider made his season debut in Sunday's 11-6 win over the Colorado Rockies after returning from an oblique strain, while star right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (hamstring), shortstop Ha-Seong Kim (finger), and several pitchers are injured, per MLB.com.

Players like Olson (1.047 OPS), second baseman Ozzie Albies (.331 batting average), catcher Drake Baldwin (.313 average), center fielder Michael Harris II (.318 average), starting pitcher Bryce Elder (1.88 ERA), and fellow starting pitcher Chris Sale (2.14 ERA) have spearheaded Atlanta to the top. The bullpen has also been reliable, as closer Raisel Iglesias has yet to allow a run in eight outings, while right-hander Robert Suarez has a 0.61 ERA and southpaw Dylan Lee has a 1.08 ERA.

Although the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers are still the team to beat in the NL, the Braves have the talent to challenge their spot if they maintain their momentum. 

After Tuesday, Atlanta will finish its series against Seattle on Wednesday before finishing its road trip against the Dodgers.