Atlanta.Braves.MLB.com

Braves intent on winning their division

• fan comments
• print this page
• e-mail this page
• post on facebook

Related Links

• LaRoche's bio and statistics
• Braves reacquire LaRoche from Sox
• Get Braves tickets

By Mark Bowman / MLB.com

08/03/09 2:00 AM ET

ATLANTA -- It's not how you start, it's how you finish.

This is the mindset the Braves are taking as they enter the season's final two months with a sense of optimism that wasn't present when they concluded the first two.

While the Braves were able to keep their heads above water with a .500 record through the end of May, general manager Frank Wren entered June knowing he needed to make changes, and he did so with the acquisition of center fielder Nate McLouth and the promotion of top pitching prospect Tommy Hanson.

With these moves, Wren upgraded his lineup, fortified his rotation and provided the framework that has allowed the Braves to enter this week confident that they can find entry into the postseason -- even if the Phillies continue their torrid pace.

While the Braves are currently seven games behind the front-running Phillies in the National League East race, they are just four games back in the Wild Card race.

"When a team like the Phillies plays that well, it's going to be hard on everybody in the division," Wren said. "But that's one of the beauties of the Wild Card, and if we keep playing like we're playing, we'll be in that race right until the end."

Throughout the first three months of the season, the Braves were saddled by an inconsistent offense that wasn't able to support the contributions provided by an impressive starting rotation.

But with McLouth providing consistency at the top of the lineup, Martin Prado serving as a daily spark and Garret Anderson rounding into his successful form, the offense no longer seems to be a glaring problem. In July, the Braves produced an NL-best .828 OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) and ranked third in both runs (139) and home runs (32).

"We're happy with the way we've played the last month," Wren said. "Offensively across the board, we're performing at a level, I can't say we expected. But most players are performing at the level they've performed in the past. That gives us a chance."

Looking to add more power to his lineup, Wren swapped first basemen with the Red Sox on Friday, and in the process, brought Adam LaRoche back to Atlanta. Having spent the past couple years together in Pittsburgh, LaRoche and McLouth find themselves excited about the reality that they've landed with a team that has the potential to find its way into the postseason.

"It's a good change for me," said LaRoche, who was with the Braves when they last visited the postseason in 2005. "I've missed the playoffs for too long."

While the offense has improved, the primary reason the Braves are optimistic about reaching the playoffs is the makeup of their pitching staff. Entering Sunday night, their starting rotation ranked third in the NL with a 3.71 ERA.

During a 32-game stretch that extended from June 26 through Saturday, the Atlanta starters posted a 3.23 ERA.

If Tim Hudson can avoid any further setbacks, the Braves could further enhance their rotation with his return within the next couple of weeks. The 34-year-old right-hander's return has been slightly delayed by right hamstring discomfort that he experienced before Friday night's scheduled Minor League rehab start.

But Hudson, who is attempting to return from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery, remains hopeful that he'll resume his rehab assignment by the conclusion of this week, and if he does, there's a chance he could be back in the Atlanta rotation before August's final week arrives.

"Even with as good as this club's pitching has been, I feel like I can contribute," Hudson said.

With a rotation that consists of Derek Lowe, Javier Vazquez, Jair Jurrjens, Hanson and Hudson, Chipper Jones would find himself playing behind a group of starting pitchers that at least provides him some reminders of those glory years, when the Atlanta rotation was headed by Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz.

With Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz paving the way, the Braves encountered a journey that led them to an unprecedented 14 consecutive division titles.

While evaluating how the Phillies have played over the course of the past month, Jones understands that the Braves may have to advance to the playoffs via the Wild Card. But for now, he believes it's important for he and his teammates to allow for some margin of error and keep their sights set on winning the NL East.

"We're shooting for the top," Jones said. "I think if we aim high and don't get there, then maybe the Wild Card will be a byproduct of not winning the NL East. We're not going to worry about winning the Wild Card. We're going to worry about winning the division and going out each and every day and trying to play as solid as we can."

Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.