Atlanta Braves: 5 Bold Predictions for the Braves' Stretch Run

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Atlanta Braves fans were spoiled in the 90s and early 2000s with an unprecedented and unmatched string of division titles.

Last year gave fans a glimmer of hope for the future with their first playoff appearance since 2005.

Now, the Braves are a mere six games behind the Phillies with some of the most dynamic performers in baseball.

Let's have a look at my five bold predictions for the last two months of the Braves' season.

Dan Uggla Finishes with a .230 Average or Higher

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On July 5, the day Uggla started his now 16-game hitting streak, he was sitting with a .173 batting average.

It has managed to jump to .195, right below the infamous Mendoza line.

Uggla is hitting .321 during his streak and a 1.176 OPS. If he keeps up this pace, last year's Silver Slugger may very well hit .250.

Craig Kimbrel Wins NL Rookie of the Year

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The 23-year-old gas hurler already has 31 saves—only nine off Neftali Feliz's rookie record of 40 from a year ago.

Over his 51 appearances, Kimbrel has struck out 79 batters in 51 innings. His ERA also stands at a scant 2.16.

Of course, he may have to share the award with Jonny Venters, who has been just as nasty.

Freddie Freeman Wins a Gold Glove

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Freeman may be tied for sixth in fielding percentage among National League first basemen, but that is because five others have committed three errors on the year to Freeman's five.

Only Joey Votto and Gaby Sanchez have amassed more innings than Freeman among first basemen with a higher fielding percentage, and we're talking about .002.

Add that to the fact that Braves infielders have estimated that the rookie has saved them from 20-30 errors this year, and you're looking at a solid candidate.

Chipper Jones Finishes with 20+ Homers

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This one won't come across as bold to people who haven't kept up with Chipper's injury saga.

In short, he played from May until July with a torn meniscus and still compiled nine home runs. He had surgery, was out for two weeks, and hit a home run in his first game back Monday.

National League pitchers should beware. It seems the old Chipper Jones is back.

Five bombs a month doesn't seem too much to ask of the veteran, who is playing without discomfort in his right knee for the first time in months. 

The Braves Win the National League East

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A lot of people will probably decry me being a homer, being guilty of wishful thinking, etc, but the fact is that Atlanta has stayed within six games of the Philadelphia Phillies while not being able to hit, missing their starting left fielder for a month and with their starting third baseman playing hurt all year.

Dan Uggla is finally coming around, and Jason Heyward is showing signs for cautious optimism.

Martin Prado and Chipper Jones are back to doing what they do, Freddie Freeman is red hot and Brian McCann is making an MVP case for himself.

The Braves also seem to have an easier schedule ahead of them, and Philadelphia still has to make that daunting West Coast swing.

They also play each other six times in September.

Couple that with the fact that the Phillies' ERA only leads Atlanta's by a margin of  3.13-3.35, and you have yourself a pennant race.