How two lefty sluggers are powering the best offen...

playOzzie Albies: Every time we play the Phillies, we want to beat them (1:18)Ozzie Albies joins Rich Eisen and explains the intensity of the Braves' rivalry with the Phillies. (1:18) Matt Olson usually hits two spots behind Drake Baldwin in the Atlanta Braves' lineup, which means he is often at the top step of the dugout, about to walk into the on-deck circle, when Baldwin finishes an at-bat. Some of their most productive conversations occur in those brief moments of time. The two exceptional left-handed hitters, seven years and nine big league seasons apart, will use it to communicate what the analytics don't quite capture -- where to pick the baseball up out of the hand, how certain pitches look as they approach home plate, what adjustments need to be made because of it. "We obviously get pitched to a little bit differently because we have a little bit of different swings," Baldwin said. "But any information is good information." The Braves begin just their fourth homestand Tuesday -- starting with a three-game series against the red-hot Chicago Cubs -- and are already running away with the National League East, thanks in large part to an offense that has been the best in the sport. And Olson, a three-time All-Star on pace for his best season, and Baldwin, the reigning NL Rookie of the Year, are leading the way. Olson, 32, has homered 14 times, driven in 36 runs, slashed .296/.377/.654 and produced a 178 wRC+, tied with Aaron Judge for the third-highest mark in the majors. Baldwin, 25, has hit 10 home runs and slashed .297/.383/.509 in his second year, prompting Olson to call him "one of the best bat-to-ball guys I've played with." "It's not soft bat-to-ball, either," Olson said. "He's putting it on the barrel it feels like every at-bat." Baldwin ranks within the top 15% in the sport in hard-hit rate while also leading the majors with 17 hits on pitches outside the strike zone. He's also doing things uncommon for his profile. Like being a left-handed hitter who has OPS'd .965 against left-handed pitching. Or being a second-year player who has slugged .410 on two-strike counts, 133 points above the major league average. Braves officials have been struck by the strides Baldwin has made as a catcher, particularly his work with pitchers, but are unsurprised by his production on offense. It was expected when they drafted him, proved as he surged through every minor league level and validated as he continually made adjustments to excel as a rookie. "This is just a continuation of what he did last year," Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said. "It's expected, to be honest with you." His team's dominance, however, might not have been. The lowest moments of the Mets' season ... so far. Jorge Castillo &#187 The Braves' streak of seven consecutive playoff appearances ended in a brutal 2025 season that began with an 0-7 record and hit rock bottom with an 8-17 July. The start of this year was just as calamitous. Shortstop Ha-Seong Kim slipped on ice and broke a finger in January, left fielder Jurickson Profar was handed a 162-game suspension in March for a second PED violation, and four starting pitchers -- Spencer Strider, Hurston Waldrep, Spencer Schwellenbach and Joey Wentz -- suffered injuries ahead of the regular season. Still, FanGraphs gave the Braves a 36% chance to win the division on Opening Day. The Braves then won 25 of their first 35 games, their best start since the 19th century. All told, they've lost only one of their 13 series. And now, with the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies foundering, and the Braves' lead in the NL East at nine games, FanGraphs has those odds at 85.7%. A lot has gone into that. Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II have bounced back from down years. Chris Sale, 37, continues to look like one of the game's best pitchers. Bryce Elder has elevated to another level. The bullpen trio of Dylan Lee, Robert Suarez and Raisel Iglesias has been practically unhittable. Less-heralded players such as Mauricio Dubon, Dominic Smith and Martin Perez have stepped up. Meanwhile, Baldwin has been a constant source of quality at-bats at the top of the lineup, one that paces the sport in runs and OPS, and Olson has been a major presence behind him. Braves first-year manager Walt Weiss served as the team's bench coach when Olson hit a major league-leading 54 home runs in 2023. But Weiss believes Olson is "swinging the bat even better now," noting his batting average -- 13 points higher than his previous career high -- and the way he seems to be driving pitches with authority to the opposite field. A small tweak has helped. Olson often has a tendency of leaning back when his front foot hits the ground, throwing off his bat path and sapping some of his power. Mike Trout had a similar issue, prompting him to incorporate a step back into his load. Olson has fixed it with mental cues. He needs to feel as if he's falling forward, so he'll visualize dropping hi

How two lefty sluggers are powering the best offen...

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