Braves Briefing: Atlanta is among the elite in MLB's power rankings

The Atlanta Braves get a day off after winning what was a battle of a series against the Baltimore Orioles.

The series came to an end thanks to a Michael Harris II walk-off. The Braves outfielder missed three weeks due to some lower back pain, returned and then missed some action due to a knee issue, and returned to the lineup Sunday with a knee brace that did not limit him throughout the 12 innings of play.

Atlanta Braves stay at two in MLB's Power Rankings

The Atlanta Braves did not move in this week's Power Rankings posted on MLB.com by Manny Randhawa.

Here's what Randhawa said about Atlanta after ranking them in the same spot as a week ago.

The Braves opened the week by splitting a doubleheader on Monday against the Mets in New York, and then swept the Marlins in Miami before winning two of three against the surging Orioles at home. Atlanta secured a series win over Baltimore in thrilling fashion Sunday, when reigning NL Rookie of the Year Michael Harris II delivered a walk-off double in the 12th inning to lift the Braves to their sixth win in eight games during the week.

Atlanta trails only the Tampa Bay Rays on the list. The Baltimore Orioles were listed at three after being put at five last week.

The New York Mets came in at 15th, The Phillies were ranked 20th, the Marlins at 21st, and the Nationals at 27th.

NL East Standings

Teams	Record	GB	Action Today
Atlanta	24-11	-	Off
Miami	17-18	7.0	@ Arizona
NYM	17-18	7.0	Off
Philadelphia	16-19	8.0	Off
Washington	14-20	9.5	@ San Francisco

We wrote it

Braves Today Editor-in-Chief Lindsay Crosby covered the Sunday action and in his takeaways, he gave Braves starting pitcher Bryce Elder much-needed praise.

The Orioles have a blueprint - wear out your starting pitching with base hits, get a lead, and get the game to their lockdown bullpen.
Bryce Elder and Atlanta's bullpen had other ideas.
Baltimore twice loaded the bases in the game, and ended those innings with zero runs. Elder got out of the 3rd by striking out Ryan Mountcastle and Gunnar Henderson with the bases loaded, while Collin McHugh struck out Cedric Mullins with bases loaded in the 6th.
The Atlanta bullpen stepped up late - Baltimore didn't have a baserunner for the rest of regulation - but for this game, Bryce Elder and Collin McHugh held the line.

Here is his full list of takeaways.

Watch Braves Highlights vs Baltimore

What's next

Atlanta has an off day on Monday before hosting the Boston Red Sox for a short, two game series. First pitch on Tuesday is at 7:20 PM ET, and the telecast with Voice of the Braves Brandon Gaudin is available on Bally Sports South. The radio call, with Ben Ingram, is available locally on WIFN 1340 AM/103.7FM or outside the Atlanta market on the Atlanta Braves Radio Network or MLB.com.