The Atlanta Braves endured a dreadful June, posting a major league-worst 6-21 record that featured their worst monthly winning percentage since April 1988. The month-long swoon seemed to doom the Braves' chances of repeating once again as the champions of the National League East, but they have gone 12-4 since June 30 and now trail by just five games in the NL wild-card chase. The 45-50 Braves aren't nearly as bad as the team that played .222 ball in June, nor are they as good as the one that has won three of every four games since the last day of June. So, what can we expect from the club down the stretch? Atlanta has led the NL in team ERA nearly every season since 1991, but ranks 10th in the league this season with a 4.71 mark, and its struggling bullpen leads the NL with 20 blown saves. While pitching is critical to a postseason run, it's hard to ignore Braves hitting these days. The Braves scored double-digit runs in five straight games recently. Catcher Brian McCann (.351), third baseman Chipper Jones (.337) and shortstop Edgar Renteria (.321) are hitting well above .300, and four players -- Andruw Jones (24), Jeff Francoeur (17), Adam LaRoche (17) and Chipper (15) -- have at least 15 homers. The Braves lead the NL in runs scored and rank second in home runs. It's usually the pitching leading the way in Atlanta, but perhaps the Braves can win a postseason berth with the bats carrying the load.