Will the Braves resign Dansby Swanson? While that is yet to be determined, let's break down the Braves' shortstop to get a better feel of his value and how he compares to other shortstops in the league.

Before the season began I made quite a few predictions regarding the Braves. I got a few right and a few wrong. But I think a few of these were pretty darn good! Take a listen.

The Braves are given an early exit by the Phillies. We dive into what went wrong for the Braves, but also consider all the takeaways from the 2022 season. Don't forget how much this team accomplished, and that they will be good for years to come. Bring on the offseason and 2023, because the Braves will be right there with the best teams in baseball once again.

After disappointing pitching performances in games 1 and 3 and lackluster offense most of the way, the Braves find themselves needing to win two straight games from a Phillies team that is riding high with confidence. The bulk of the responsibility falls on Charlie Morton, who hasn't been very good lately, but has a history of coming up big in big games. If the Braves are going to advanced, Morton needs to quiet Philly's bats and the Braves' offense needs to strike early and often. Here's hoping they can do it and make it back to Atlanta for game 5.

The Braves accomplished their first major goal of the season of winning the the NL East in dramatic fashion. By sweeping the Mets in Atlanta (including beating deGrom and Scherzer on back to back nights) and finishing the task with a win against the Marlins, the Braves earned a pivotal first round bye in the newly constructed expanding playoff format. How did they do it? By overcoming a lot of diversity with major contributions from young stars. By following the lead of Snitker, not panicking, remaining confident in each other, and coming up big in the biggest moments. How sweet is it to snatch the NL East crown from the Mets at the last minute? Pretty darn sweet.

The Braves enter their final three game showdown with the Mets down 1 game in the NL East standings. While the task it a tough one, the Braves still have control of their destiny. Sweeping the Mets will put them in the driver's seat for the division, while winning the series 2-1 still gives them a chance for the division. No matter what happens, it should be a great environment at Truist Park as two of the best teams in all of baseball square off as the playoffs are just around the corner.

A look at the impact Ozzie Albies will have as he returns from a broken foot injury. At the same time, the Braves need Matt Olson and Austin Riley to return to form. What kind of player is Matt Olson? Is he an all-star or just another guy with some power? Additionally, its time to see what Raisel Iglesias can do in the closers role as Kenley Jansen continues to struggle. And what impact will the coming rule changes have on the game?

The Braves have moved into first place as they have gone on an 8 game winning streak while the Mets have stumbled over weaker opponents. Things are certainly trending up for the Braves and down for the Mets, though that guarantees nothing. Nonetheless, the younger Braves roster may be better suited to finish the season strong, compared to the older Mets squad.

Do the Braves have the best culture in baseball? While talent matters to every team, it is evident that culture might matter a little more to the Atlanta organization. Through the last several decades, even in the rebuilding years, the Braves have put a lot of stock in creating a work environment where people want to be. Sure it's not perfect, but it does seem like it allows players to flourish in a way that doesn't happen everywhere else. Events of the last few games have been a reminder that Braves baseball is unique and us Braves fans can certainly appreciate players from Smoltz to Chipper to Francoeur and McCann to Freddie, all the way down to Harris, Strider, and Grissom who play the game with passion, heart, and joy. Last years' club was certainly indicative of that culture. Maybe this team can find that magic again as October nears. But the Mets' likely won't make it easy.

The Braves have bounced back to win 14 of 16 games including 3 of 4 from the Mets and 2 of 3 from the Astros. What stands out is how young, athletic, and dynamic this team has become. Just how good has this team been since June 1. Well, they have been the best team in baseball.