
'Rock bottom' Chelsea need manager with PL experience
Chelsea's poor form raises questions about managerial choices and experience.
The Atlanta Braves hold a 9.5 game lead in their division, the largest in MLB. They boast the best offense and third-best pitching staff despite early-season injuries.

Braves lead the most 'chaotic' division in MLB originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Atlanta Braves (26-11) have the biggest lead over any team in any division in Major League Baseball, with a 9.5 game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies (16-20) and the Washington Nationals (16-20). The Braves have the best offense in baseball (.273 batting average and an .802 OPS) and the third-best pitching staff (3.22).
Despite suffering injuries to begin the season, the Braves are a long way from the 0-7 start that they had in 2025.
According to MLB.com's Will Leitch, the National League East is considered the most chaotic division in Major League Baseball, with a score of 9/10. The Braves' commanding division lead is thanks to the Phillies and the New York Mets playing poorly.
"Even better, the Bravesā hot start has run parallel to equally historic struggles for their two biggest rivals, the Phillies and Mets," wrote Leitch. "The result? The Braves enter Wednesday leading the division by 9 1/2 games -- a gap that is 6 1/2 games bigger than in any other division. The Braves arenāt just the best team in baseball so far; theyāre the only team in this division with a winning record. Who saw that coming?"
The Atlanta Braves currently have a record of 26-11.
The Braves have a 9.5 game lead over both the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals, who are tied at 16-20.
The Braves have a .273 batting average and an .802 OPS for the best offense, along with a 3.22 ERA for the third-best pitching staff.

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The Phillies and Mets both had double-digit losing streaks this season, with the Phillies losing 10 games (April 14-24) and the Mets doing them two better by losing 12 in a row (April 8-21). There's still a long season ahead, and both the Mets and the Phillies have a chance to turn things around.
The Mets are still scuffling, having a record of 4-6 in their last 10, while the Phillies have gotten hot, winning eight of their last 10 (8-2). However, the Braves are getting healthier, with right-handers Spencer Strider and Raisel Iglesias returning from the injured list, while catcher Sean Murphy has also returned.
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