Clinging to Life: Atlanta Braves' Chances for 2009 Are Slim, but Alive

It's make-or-break time for Atlanta.

Interleague play and an outbreak of injuries has crippled many NL East teams.

Interleague play didn't shake up the division as badly as it could have, but playing teams from the opposite league has kept things rather close in the NL East.

It's starting to become a four-horse race for the division, and the Braves, albeit barely, are hanging in there.

Every team in the NL East appears to be succumbing to "June Swoons." Most of this is caused by injuries and interleague play.

The Mets are playing without Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran, and J.J. Putz. The Phillies are also down in their pitching.

Atlanta has escaped with minor flesh wounds for injuries. Both Nate McLouth and Yunel Escobar were out in the last series with Boston but are expected back tomorrow in the series opener with Philadelphia.

The Braves did fairly well in interleague play, putting up a 7-8 record but are only 10-15 for the month of June, hardly any better than the 2006 6-21 record. Against the other teams in the division, Atlanta did well in interleague play.

The only team to snag more wins than the Braves was Florida with 10 (10-8). The Nationals tied the Braves with wins but lost more with 11.

Philadelphia and New York have been the biggest losers in interleague play. The Phillies went a dismal 6-12 and the Mets came out with a 5-10 record.

Atlanta has given the Phillies every opportunity to run away with the division, but Philadelphia has also given the Braves every opportunity to climb out of the cellar.

Now the Braves can really come back in a three-game series against the defending world champions at Turner Field.

The Braves will have to sweep the Phillies or at least win the series in order to stay in the division race. Atlanta is five games behind, so two wins or a sweep will put them right on the doorstep at two or three games back.

It is possible for the Braves to sweep Philadelphia. This season, Atlanta has had the Phillies' number by going 4-2 against them and have outscored Philadelphia 35-27.

Atlanta hurlers Derek Lowe, Jair Jurrjens, and Javy Vazquez will take to the rubber against Joe Blanton, Cole Hamels, and a pitcher to be named later. Braves' pitchers are throwing quality starts but with the lack of offensive production, they are losing games.

Phillies ace Hamels is also struggling and not having the year he wished for. He is currently 4-4 with a lackluster 4.44 ERA.

Derek Lowe goes tomorrow and the Braves ace is having a June Swoon of his own. In his last start against the Yankees, he was shell shocked for six runs in three innings. If the Braves want to win, he will have to make sure his sinkerball sinks and is not left high and over the plate.

Having McLouth and Escobar back in the lineup will help the Braves tremendously. Both Chipper Jones and Brian McCann are going through the worst slumps of their careers.

Chipper showed signs of improvement Sunday with a solo blast against the Red Sox. A red-hot Garrett Anderson will also be a factor in the series against the Phillies.

Atlanta's trio of Peter Moylan, Rafael Soriano, and Mike Gonzalez in the bullpen has been virtually lights-out. Their average ERA is 2.59 and their combined BB/K is 45/121.

This bullpen trio is arguably one of the best in baseball and if the score is close, Atlanta will have to depend on these hurlers especially against the Phillies, who are 26-12 on the road. The Phillies road record is the best in baseball.

The Braves can't call it quits just yet. If they can put their June Swoon behind them and win the next two series against Philadelphia and Washington, they will be right back in the thick of things.

If the Braves can be at .500 coming into the All-Star break, that will ultimately decide if Frank Wren will be buying or selling at the trade deadline.

And that one more big bat may right the Braves' ship.