MLB Standings 2021: Braves Pulling Away From Phillies, Mets As Freddie Freeman Plays At MVP Level

It took more than four months, but the Atlanta Braves are back in control of the NL East. In search of a fourth straight division title, the Braves have begun to create some meaningful separation between themselves and their top competition.

With an 11-9 victory over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday, Atlanta extended its lead atop the NL East to 3.5 games. Freddie Freeman hit for the cycle, continuing to play at the level that earned him the 2020 NL MVP award.

Freeman led the Braves to within one victory of a trip to last year’s World Series. Atlanta has dominated the NL East since 2018, winning the division title by at least four games in each season.

That streak appeared to be in serious jeopardy for much of this year. The Braves were in third place and four games behind the first-place New York Mets on Aug. 1.

Atlanta has put together a 13-2 record since that date, along with a six-game winning streak. Now, it’s the Mets who find themselves in third place, 4.5 games behind the Braves with one of MLB’s worst offenses.

The Philadelphia Phillies trail the Braves by 3.5 games in second place. The Washington Nationals and Marlins have long been out of the playoff race.

The Braves’ turnaround has been led by Freeman, who struggled with a .235 average in the first two months of the season. Freeman has been on a tear since July, hitting .376 with 11 home runs. Overall, the first baseman ranks in the top 10 among NL hitters in average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.

Freeman’s 27 home runs are good for third in the National League. Five Braves have at least 22 homers, putting them all in the top 20 in the NL.

Atlanta’s top-3 offense has helped it overcome an average pitching staff. Over the last 30 days, however, the Braves’ 3.38 ERA ranks third in the NL.

FanGraphs estimates that the Braves have a 66.1% chance to win the division.