The Atlanta Braves have started this crucial road trip by winning 4 of 5. A two-game sweep of the Marlins and now taking 2 of 3 from the Phillies. And have done it with OFFENSE! The Braves head into Citi Field in NY tonight for a huge 3-game set against the first place Mets.

The Braves got healthy with Garret Anderson and Brian McCann coming off the disabled list. Anderson looks to be coming around to the hitter he has always been and McCann looks like a new hitter with those new specs. In addition to these guys being back healthy, Casey Kotchman is on a tear. Kotchman in May is 11 for 33, 4 doubles, 2 homers, and 8 RBIs(10 May games). Kotchman was hitting for average to open the season but wasn’t driving in the runs. His defense is incredible (0 errors since joining Braves in 2008) but the Braves will need Kotchman to bring a balance to the lineup.

The Braves pitching has continued to be pretty consistent. The bullpen which looked shaky early has been lights out recently. The bullpen seems to being throwing strikes and not allowing base-runners. The starting rotation has started to struggle a little bit. Jair Jurrjens continues to be rock solid along with Derek Lowe. If JoJo Reyes can keep pitches in the ballpark and Kawakami can be a little more consistent the rotation could be what it is supposed to be: our backbone. Overall, I feel our rotation is doing great, they just need to keep us in games and hopefully the bats will carry us to victories.

In Case You Missed It:

Chipper Jones left Sunday’s game with a sore elbow. He says it shouldn’t be more than a day. But will Bobby try him tonight against Johan Santana? Let’s hope so!

Brain McCann came off the DL Friday in Philly. In the 3 game series McCann went 5 for 12, 1 HR, 2 Rs, and 4 RBIs. I think the glasses work and B-Mac is obviously seeing the ball better. He is the key to this Braves lineup.

Jordan Schafercontinues to struggle with strikeouts (tied for 2nd in MLB). But he also has continued to show a good eye (5th in NL in BBs). Let’s be honest the kid can hit and will eventually hit. This is on the job training. His range in center is insane and when he’s on base he can flat out fly. With no other real option in CF, Cox should start to bunt Schafer and hit and run while he is on. The Braves rank last in MLB in SBs with 6 total. We should try to steal at least when our fastest guy is on.