Atlanta Braves: A Dark Horse In The NL Wild Card and Eastern Division

After taking three out of four games from the NL's best team, the Dodgers, the Braves seemed to have found new life and look to be right back in the playoff race.

Have there not been a walk-off three-run home run from Andre Ethier, the Braves would have completed the four-game sweep.

The conclusion of that series left the Braves looking at a four-game wild card deficit and only a four and a half game deficit in the Eastern Division. That's thanks in large part to the Florida Marlins sweeping of the Philadelphia Phillies this past weekend.

Given their success against the rival Phillies—7-2 this season—the Braves have confidence that they can beat the Phillies and catch them for the division crown.

Of course they will get a chance to on this six-game homestand coming up starting with the recently red hot Washington Nationals.

Scheduled to pitch the two-game series against the Washington Nationals is phenom rookie Tommy Hanson and Derek Lowe. If these two men can help get a sweep against Washington, it will put Atlanta on a five-game win streak and momentum to chew into that Phillies lead in the division.

If Atlanta continues to get quality starts from their rotation and timely hitting from their offense, this team is capable of not only winning the wild card, but the NL East as well.

The Braves rotation looks to only be getting stronger with Tim Hudson coming back from Tommy John surgery. Whether he will be inserted in the rotation or bullpen remains to be seen, but it looks like the Braves have a lot going for them in gritty time of year.