It Took Atlanta Braves Losing Their Best Player to Finally Get Over the Hump

It took them 26 years, but the Atlanta Braves are World Series Champions. It was a miracle run for Atlanta who had a losing record at the All-Star break and were the latest Championship team to get above .500 ever (August 6th). The Houston Astros pushed the series to six games after a wild comeback, but the Braves finally overcame their World Series drought. This all happened despite losing their best player Ronald Acuna Jr., since it took him going down for the Braves to make a variety of deadline moves that got ATL over the hump.

Jorge Soler is the 3rd player to be acquired midseason and win World Series MVP, joining:

2018 Steve Pearce
1969 Donn Clendenon

The Braves are the first team to have an LCS & WS MVP in the same year who were BOTH acquired midseason (Eddie Rosario)

The story of their season!
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) November 3, 2021

INTERESTING FACTS

Jorge Soler hit the most GW-HR (3 HR that put team ahead to stay) during 1 postseason series in MLB history
Max Fried is the 1st SP with 6+ Ks/0 BB/0 R allowed during a potential World Series clinching game in MLB history
Freddie Freeman hit the t-most HR (5) during 1 postseason in Atlanta Braves history

Atlanta Braves facts:

Most HR (59) in 1 total season by players not on the Opening Day roster in MLB playoff history
Most postseason HR (12) in 1 season by players not on the Opening Day roster in MLB playoff history
1st team to have a LCS MVP and World Series MVP both be acquired midseason
1st WS Champion without their Opening Day OF (Ronald Acuna, Marcell Ozuna, Cristian Pache) playing in the WS
Ended the longest postseason drought (16 years) without winning a World Series in MLB history
1st team with 10+ Ks/0 BB/0 Runs allowed during the World Series clinching game in MLB history
1st team to win the World Series with a losing record at the All-Star break since 1964 and the 2nd team ever
Are World Series Champions despite having the 12th best regular season record in 2021

Odds vs. HOU in Game 6: ATL +110 (Spread +1.0)

MAIN TAKEAWAY

IT TOOK ATLANTA BRAVES LOSING THEIR BEST PLAYER TO FINALLY GET OVER THE HUMP

COLORS KEY | FULL BRAVES OUTLOOK

Strong performances were needed from Atlanta to defeat Houston. Max Fried got the ball in Game 6 and established his dominance on the mound, along with relievers Tyler Matzek and Will Smith. Their offense returned in the final 2021 World Series game with seven runs. Over the past few years, the Braves were a perennial playoff team but they finally won the World Series without Ronald Acuna Jr., a top-five MLB player.

Ronald Acuna Jr.’s injury led to the acquisitions of NLCS MVP Eddie Rosario and World Series MVP Jorge Soler. Joc Pederson, another Outfielder acquired, came up big in the NLDS. Lastly, Adam Duvall was Atlanta’s top run producer in the second half (1st in RBI’s) after also being an in-season acquisition. Acuna Jr.’s injury ironically had a ripple effect on the team that would eventually lead to the Braves first World Series Championship in the 21st century.

BEST HIGHLIGHTS

Soler Power out of the stadium

SOLER HAS LEFT THE BUILDING. pic.twitter.com/IOc5wXreRb
— MLB (@MLB) November 3, 2021

Game 6 started with a bang

What a start to Game 6! 😱 #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/UcS2lvEIpH
— MLB (@MLB) November 3, 2021

HRs from ATL to win WS

The kid from Georgia is trying to win it #ForTheA! #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/jdVIsxWMiD
— MLB (@MLB) November 3, 2021

FREDDIE! pic.twitter.com/evys0OR1pt
— MLB (@MLB) November 3, 2021

Braves are World Champions!

The @Braves are World Champions!!! pic.twitter.com/zTirZrkgUs
— MLB (@MLB) November 3, 2021

Best plays of the MLB playoffs

Which of these plays was your favorite of the #postseason?

Reply with your pick and you could win a jersey of your choice! pic.twitter.com/83tl2fA9vU
— MLB (@MLB) November 4, 2021