Once again, Braves beasts of NL East

The 2018 Braves feasted on the other National League East teams to the point where it became a recurring theme to acknowledge their lessthan-stellar results against other foes. They were 49-27 against the East, 41-45 against everyone else.

The 2019 edition is even better (with the caveat that they’re also succeeding against other opponents). The Braves were 39-21 against the East entering Friday’s game against Washington, the second of 14 consecutive matchups inside the division.

That mark is the franchise’s third best by winning percentage (.650) since divisional play began in 1969. Only the 1999 Braves (35-16, .650) and 2004 Braves (5125, .671) have fared better thus far.

So it’s easy to see why the Braves entered Friday with an eight-game advantage over Washington, whose 78-61 mark is good only for a two-game lead for homefield advantage in the wildcard game. The Phillies, who infamously swept the Braves on opening weekend, are 14 games back at 72-67, while the somewhat competitive Mets sit a game behind Philadelphia.

Last year’s Braves used a mid-September surge, highlighted by a 6-1 trip to Phoenix and San Francisco, to wrap up the division. They clinched on a Saturday afternoon against the Phillies, whose downward spiral let the Braves coast to the finish line.

The Braves haven’t had as much resistance this time, sitting alone atop the standings since June 12. The current lead is the team’s largest, made possible by taking eight of the past 10 meetings against Washington, who’s been one of the league’s hottest teams in May yet hasn’t inched close enough to truly threaten the Braves’ division crown.

The NL East look its lumps early, but it has lived up to the hype as one of the deeper divisions in the league. Four teams are over .500, with each possessing ace-caliber starters and big bats. Even so, the Braves are 88-48 (.647) against the East the past two seasons.