Where the Braves’ pitching staff stands heading into the second half

While the offense was front and center, the Atlanta Braves’ pitching staff played a big part in their 60-29 start to the season. The Braves enter Friday’s series opener against the Chicago White Sox leading the majors with a 3.63 ERA. That’s kind of an interesting number, because the defense hasn’t always been there, and the Braves don’t play in a particularly pitching-friendly park, either. Yet, the ERA is only partially a stroke of luck, as the pitching staff is top five in both FIP- and xFIP-, anyway. Atlanta’s bullpen leads the National League and is third in the majors with a 3.43 ERA at the break, as well as leading MLB in FIP- and being just outside the top five in xFIP-. When you consider that they have done this largely without Max Fried and Kyle Wright, it is pretty amazing.

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