The MLB record for the most wins in a row is 26, held by the 1916 Giants. However, if we are talking about the last 100 years, the 2017 Indians (now Guardians) won 22 in a row back in 2017, a record the Braves could have been flirting with going into the All-Star break if a couple of breaks had gone their way.
Atlanta has won 18 of their last 20, mostly in dominant fashion, and the two games that they ended up losing over that stretch were by a single run, one of which came on Tuesday night in extra innings to the Guardians. The Braves were up two in that game as well, and they lost it in the 10th after Sam Hilliard was thrown out at the plate in the top half of the inning.
The other loss Atlanta fans should remember vividly. The Braves jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning, then Elly De La Cruz happened. He went on to hit for the cycle, and the Reds tallied 11 runs to beat the Braves by one and extend their win streak to 12… before losing the next two games in the series.
The Braves’ last 20 games:
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
L*
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
L***
W* The Elly De La Cruz cycle game. Led 5-0 in first
*** Lost in extra innings after tying game in 9th. Led by 2 early.
Amazing how close they’ve come to winning 20 in a row.
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) July 6, 2023
Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, but it just goes to show how well the Braves are playing right now. When they win, it’s usually an onslaught, leaving multiple pitchers shaking their heads as they walk off the mound. When they lose, it’s by a razor thin margin where everything has to go right for the opposing team.
It’s why this recent stretch of play feels sustainable. The Braves aren’t just beating teams; they are crushing their souls. The power up and down the lineup is unmatched. The pitching staff is also one of the most underrated groups in the league, and the team is only going to get healthier in the coming months. This is one of the most fantastic stretches of baseball that’s ever been played, and the Braves might not even have reached their peak.
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Photo: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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