The game itself was a reminder that this club still has mid-game punch. Chicago held a three-run lead into the late innings before Albies’ two-run shot in the seventh flipped the inning, with Acuña and Baldwin supplying the other two-run blasts in a 6–3 final.
The standings move is larger than one win. Philadelphia fell to 83–68. That is a 5.5-game gap with two weeks left, and the AJC notes Atlanta can clinch the East as early as Saturday.
Tonight the series continues at Wrigley. Shota Imanaga is the Cubs’ scheduled starter; J.R. Ritchie is lined up for the Braves. Chicago is still a serious wild-card club, so this is not a soft landing even with the division lead padded.
Exact games ahead of the NL East leader: the Braves are the leader, 5.5 games ahead of Philadelphia. Exact games behind: zero. Magic number: five.
Atlanta is 89–63 after a 6–3 comeback at Wrigley Field on Tuesday night. Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies, and Drake Baldwin each hit two-run homers, and because the Nationals beat the Phillies, the Braves now lead the NL East by 5.5 games.
The magic number to clinch the division is five. Atlanta can finish this mathematically as soon as Saturday if the remaining results break right.