"If only mortgage giant Freddie Mac were doing half as well as the Braves' Freddie Mac.

We're referring to Freddie Freeman and Brian McCann, the team's surging middle-order hitting duo. The two have picked up some of the slack while Martin Prado's been on the DL and Dan Uggla's been in a season-long hitting slump that must feel like some sort of purgatory by now – for Uggla and for any Braves fans who've stuck with him through it.

Prado should be back no later than the first series after the All-Star break, and possibly even this weekend at Philadelphia. Uggla? Well, uh … more in a moment.

First, though, a quick look at the recent hitting exploits of the Braves' ascendant rookie first baseman and baseball's best all-around catcher.

Freeman had his first two-homer game Monday, driving in all but one of the Braves' runs in a 4-1 win over the Rockies.

McCann scored the other run when he hustled from first base on a double by last year's rookie sensation (and longtime former Freeman roommate) Jason Heyward, though Heyward got no RBI after an error was charged on the play for a dropped relay throw.

Anyway, Freeman. He's a special young player, for sure. He's played Gold Glove-caliber defense all season, and lately his plate discipline, power and mature hitting approach have all come to the fore."