The Atlanta Braves are gearing up for a big series in Philadelphia against the Phillies, and while both teams are coming off playoff appearances a season ago, with the Phillies eventually making their way to the World Series, it's actually the Miami Marlins who are closest in the standings to the NL East-leading Braves.
John Fricke and Randy McMichael chat about the NL East standing and which teams have a chance to chase down the Braves atop the division.
"Why do they concern me? They're not on the Braves level," says Randy McMichael speaking about all 4 of the other teams in the division. "They just continue to hang in there, you (Fricke) call the Nationals the Gnats, that's what the Marlins are right now."
The Braves, Marlins, and Phillies are all red hot right now, as all three teams have active winning streaks of 5+ games, the Marlins have won 7 of their last 10 and the Braves and Phillies have been victorious in 8 of their last 10.
There is some thought that, despite being the team closest to the Braves in the standings, the Marlins will eventually fall off and the Phillies are actually the biggest threat to the Braves.
The Braves currently lead the NL East by 4.5 games over the Marlins, 8 games over the Phillies, and 12 games over the Mets and can really bubble that lead over Philly to double digits with a good series at Citizen Bank Park.
