Two Best Teams In Baseball Go Head to Head
Top Photo by Sarah Stier (Getty Images)
Bottom Photo by Curtis Compton
During this season there have been two teams that have dominated each of their respective divisions. For the American League it’s been the Tampa Bay Rays and for the National League it’s been the Atlanta Braves. Well for the next three days the baseball world gets to see these two titans clash for a three-game set in the Trop. So how did these two teams get to where they are, and will this be a World Series preview? As for the American League leaders, the Tampa Bay Rays, it’s been their high-powered offense and relentless pitching. For starters, the Rays offense has been one of the best in the league, especially in the beginning of the season. A couple players who have helped the team get that feat are the three 2023 Allstar representatives for the Rays, Wander Franco, Randy Arozarena, and Yandy Diaz. Yandy Diaz is having a career year this year slashing .310/.399/.496 good for a .896 OPS. Diaz has been a great force for this lineup, usually as the top of the order he provides great on base percentage and always gives a quality at bat. Another one of those Rays Allstars in Randy Arozarena is slashing .282/.390/.475 good for a .866 OPS with 16 homeruns. Arozarena seems to have found his swing in the World Baseball Classic earlier this year and carried it into his 2023 Allstar campaign. Arozarena seems to have become the face of the Rays and one of the main faces in baseball. Although these two have been on fire for the Rays, one of the biggest contributors to the game and electricity in the club house is the young Allstar Wander Franco. Franco has been great for the Rays ever since making his debut in 2021. This year has been a breakout for Franco showing that he can become a big part of this lineup for a long time. This year he is slashing .284/.341/.469 good for a .809 OPS with 11 homeruns. This high-powered offense was not alone in in the MLB, however. The Atlanta Braves have been equally if not better than the Rays have been. For instance, the Braves are sending 8 players to the Allstar game. That includes Spencer Strider. Austin Riley, Matt Olson, Sean Murphy, Orlando Arcia, Ozzie Albies, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Bryce Elder. One of their main contributors in Ronald Acuna Jr. is putting on an MVP like season. In the first half Acuna is slashing .333/.420/.587 good for an .997 OPS with 21 homeruns and 41 stolen bases. If that sounds like a lot is because it is absolutely ridiculous. Acuna had a 20/40 season in the first half of the 2023 season. Although Acuna has been on fire, he has had help from Olson and Murphy. Both additions from the Oakland A’s, they have been amazing for the Braves. In this series the Rays and Braves are two favorites in their divisions. However, the Rays are 3-7 in their last 10, while the Braves are 9-1 in their last 10. So in a high powered environment we will see if the Rays can battle back and go on a hot streak while the Braves look to remain hot and take the best record in baseball.