Austin Riley Just Reminded Philadelphia What's Coming

The drought broke Wednesday. Friday it became an avalanche.

Austin Riley -- coming off core surgery, batting .103 through his first eight games -- just dropped two opposite-field home runs in a 9-0 shutout at Philadelphia. Three-run bomb in the second. Solo shot in the ninth. Four RBI. A statement.

Three homers on the season now. The bat is back.

But here's the part that should terrify every front office in the NL East.

The Braves are 13-7. Four shutouts, most in baseball. The only team in MLB without a series loss. A 2.93 team ERA that leads the sport.

And they're doing it without Spencer Strider. Without Spencer Schwellenbach. Without Hurston Waldrep. Three arms that would slot into most rotations in baseball, all on the IL.

Martin Perez -- the guy they DFA'd and brought back -- threw six shutout innings Friday. That's the depth chart speaking.

The Phillies? Lost seven of their last nine. Sitting 8-12. The team that was supposed to own this division is drowning while the Braves cruise without their cavalry.

I'm 85% sure the Braves are the best team in the National League right now. Not the Dodgers. Not the Phillies. Atlanta.

And their three best arms haven't even pitched yet.

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