The Atlanta Braves are coming off their best seven-game stretch since mid-May as they have won six of their last seven games, including two series wins over Tampa Bay the White Sox.
In addition to the Braves turning things around after their five-game losing streak, their offensive struggles have seemed to also come to an end. They have put up 39 runs over the past seven games.
However, Atlanta now faces the task of continuing the consistency at the plate against Major League Baseball's best team as they begin a three-game set with the Yankees on Friday.
On Friday, John Fricke, who sat in for Steak Shapiro and Sandra Golden on The Steakhouse, shared his thoughts on why facing a Yankees team which he considers not only the best team in baseball this season, but the best franchise in MLB history is a measuring stick.
“You’re going up against the historic No. 1 franchise all-time in their stadium, in the Bronx and they happen to be really good,” Fricke said of the Yankees, who have the best record in baseball at 51-26.
“This is the test now and we get Chris Sale going on the mound and the good thing is if you think about it, Chris Sale knows a little bit about the Yankees and pitching in Yankee Stadium because he did it,” Fricke said of the Braves’ veteran pitcher who spent all of his career up to this point in the American League and face the Yankees 22 times throughout his career. “This is going to be a real marker.”
Fricke noted the series will allow fans to see where the Braves are as they appear to be showing “signs of life.”