Braves Briefing: Atlanta is at the top of MLB.com's final power rankings

Atlanta has been at the top of almost everyone's power rankings for most of the back half of the season but there's something fitting about being at the top during the final edition of the regular season.

With one week to go in the 2023 MLB season, MLB.com has Atlanta as the best team in baseball. Here's what they wrote:

The Braves remain in a class of their own, becoming the first team to reach 100 wins this season with a victory in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader against the Nationals. As we head into the final week of the regular season, Atlanta could be on the verge of rewriting the record books offensively. The next home run hit by a Braves batter will be the club’s 300th of the season, and the Twins’ MLB record of 307 (2019) is within reach. The Braves could also become the first team in AL/NL history to slug .500 over a full season. They’re currently slugging .501, and the AL/NL record is .495 by the 2019 Astros. It will be an exciting final week for a juggernaut preparing for a deep postseason run.

Wild Card Standings

The Atlanta Braves have won the NL East and secured a first-round bye but we're closely watching the Wild Card race as Atlanta will play the winner of the Wild Card series pitting the top two wild card finishers in the Divisional Round.

Team	Record	Wildcard Games Back	Action Today
Philadelphia	87-69	+5.0	Off
Arizona	82-73	+0.5	@ NYY
Chi Cubs	82-74	-	Off
Miami	81-75	-1.0	Off
Cincinnati	80-77	-2.5	Off

We wrote it

Braves Today's Lindsay Crosby led our Sunday coverage. He highlighted Spencer Strider's pursuit of history.

Strider entered Sunday night's game two with 270 strikeouts, seven away from passing John Smoltz's 1996 season for the modern-era record in a single season.
He's still behind Smoltz.
Strider struck out four batters in his 5.2 innings, with four runs allowed on seven hits. It was an uncharacteristically low strikeout performance from Strider, whose previous low mark for strikeouts when he went into the 6th inning was six.
But he's healthy, and got the win, and he'll have a start at home against these same Nationals to get the Atlanta franchise record from Smoltz this upcoming weekend.

Check out the full list of takeaways here.

What's next for the Atlanta Braves?

Monday's an off day for the team. Tuesday starts a three game set with the Chicago Cubs, who are fighting for a Wild Card spot. Chicago's throwing their studs in the upcoming series, while Atlanta has Bryce Elder and two TBDs on the docket.

First pitch in Tuesday's series opener is scheduled for 7:20 PM ET, with the broadcast on Bally Sports South.

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