The Latest Breaking News from Ozzie Albies

ATLANTA — It was another three hours of lead changes and walks and big hits and big outs and an October night’s worth of tension in early-April game.

ST. LOUIS — An early display of force and panache by one of the top lineups in the National League was too much for even the Cardinals' steady, pesky lineup to keep pace.

WASHINGTON — Opening day feels special because of the pomp and circumstance, from the flyovers to the massive American flag unfurled for the national anthem. Optimism abounds because each team begins with the same record.

On opening day, every team is 0-0. Fans all around the sport have optimism. Nothing has happened yet, so anything can happen.

ATLANTA — ESPN ranks eight Braves among MLB’s top 74 players. Ronald Acuna is No. 14, Ozzie Albies No. 74. In between come Austin Riley, Max Fried, Michael Harris, Spencer Strider, Matt Olson and Sean Murphy. That’s two pitchers, one catcher, three infielders and two outfielders. That’s what you’d call…

In sports and gambling there, there is a (mistaken) belief that a player who is performing better than normal will continue to play well.

NORTH PORT, Fla. — The Braves’ rotation could be a strength, perhaps even among the best in MLB, with multiple Cy Young candidates. It could also be a bit shaky, with various outcomes that could lead the Braves to pursue external help by July.

These are the most likely stars at their age to reach Cooperstown.

Once a young arm on an up-and-coming team, Max Fried is now one of baseball’s true aces, someone whose reputation as a big-game pitcher is acknowledged throughout the sport.

NEW YORK — Hard as it must be for the Citi Field faithful to accept the fact the Mets won 101 games, the second-most wins in their history, and still wound up as a wild card, there is this dose of hard reality: The Braves were simply a better team.

After winning a World Series and signing an extension, he has emerged as the anchor of an enviably loaded Atlanta roster.