Throughout spring training, Atlanta’s manager, Brian Snitker, consistently emphasized their ultimate objective: winning the World Series.

However, he reminded his players that they had a vital step to take before pursuing that dream – winning the National League East. “That’s the number one goal,” he declared prior to Wednesday’s 4–1 triumph over the Phillies, which secured their sixth consecutive NL East title. “We can’t embark on anything special until we secure the division.” On Wednesday, they accomplished that feat, setting the stage for what comes next: something extraordinary.

Atlanta currently stands out as one of the most formidable teams in recent memory. They lead the league in Wins Above Replacement (WAR) for catchers, first basemen, third basemen, and right fielders. They rank fourth among pitchers, seventh among designated hitters, ninth among second basemen, and tenth among center fielders.

Even their least productive hitter, shortstop Orlando Arcia, earned an All-Star nod. Outfielder Kevin Pillar, who previously played on Blue Jays teams that reached the ALCS in 2015 and 2016, and briefly joined last year’s Dodgers, a team that won 111 games before exiting the NLDS, remarked, “This is on a different level. It’s an unbelievable environment.” This year’s powerhouse led the division almost from start to finish, a coveted position but also a challenge as they aimed to avoid complacency.

Snitker acknowledged the difficulty, stating, “But [these] guys never got caught up in any of the good, bad, or indifferent that we had. They’re so consistent. They come to the ballpark every day and [focus on] winning that day’s game.

I haven’t heard one guy talk about magic numbers, our lead in the standings, or any of that. Whether we were going through a tough stretch or losing games in the standings, I never heard one guy discuss it. All I heard them talk about was getting to the ballpark and preparing to compete.”