ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- The Atlanta Braves have climbed to the top of Major League Baseball's rankings after finishing the regular season in third place. In the final game of the regular season, the Braves defeated the Chicago Cubs, 8-5, in Game 5 of their World Series series, and they now lead the National League East by four games over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Braves had been one of the most dominant teams in baseball for much of the season. They were 29-16 with a winning percentage of .678 and finished as the best team in the league in both the National League East and American League West. But they faced a tough challenge from the Cubs in the World Series.

Atlanta was able to overcome some tough challenges throughout the season, including losing key players like Ryan Howard and Kyle Schwarber. However, the Braves' defense and pitching were instrumental in helping them win the division title and reach the playoffs.

In the playoffs, the Braves faced the Boston Red Sox, who had won the American League championship in 2016. Despite falling behind early in the series, the Braves rallied back to win five straight games, including a dramatic 8-7 victory on June 14 that sent them into the World Series.

In the World Series, the Braves faced the Tampa Bay Rays, who had won the American League pennant in 2018. Despite being down 2-1 in the first three games, the Braves came back to win the series, sweeping the Red Sox in four games.

After defeating the Tampa Bay Rays in six games, the Braves advanced to the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros. The Braves took the series, leading 3-1 going into Game 5, but the Astros responded with a 5-2 victory to force a deciding seventh game.

Game 7 was played at Turner Field, where the Braves managed to rally back from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Astros 9-8 in extra innings, sending Atlanta to its first World Series since 1994. The Braves then swept the Houston Astros in the World Series, securing their fourth consecutive division title.

Overall, the Atlanta Braves have shown that they can compete at the highest level of professional sports. Their success is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and ability to adapt to different situations.