ATLANTA -- As Austin Riley nears completion of one of the best offensive months in Braves history, he finds himself positioned to possibly reach numbers only previously touched by the likes of Hank Aaron and Chipper Jones.

Riley strengthened his MVP credentials as he grabbed the MLB lead in extra-base hits and helped the Braves claim a 5-2 win over the D-backs on Friday night at Truist Park. The third baseman drilled his 29th homer and added two doubles against Arizona starter Madison Bumgarner.

“It’s incredible how quickly he has grown and how quickly he’s turned into a superstar,” Kyle Wright said after notching his NL-best 13th win with Riley’s assistance.

Dansby Swanson has been an MVP candidate over the past couple months, and he should keep that distinction. But as the Braves have produced MLB’s best record since June 1, it’s hard to say anybody has been more valuable than Riley, who is now hitting .299 with a .963 OPS, which ranks second among all National League players, trailing only Paul Goldschmidt.

Riley exited June hitting .257 with 18 homers and a .830 OPS. It looked like he was going to record a second straight 30-homer season. But the MVP buzz has truly built as he has hit .427 with 11 homers and a 1.372 OPS in July.

He ranks second in batting average and homers and first in OPS among all MLB players this month.

“This was just like another day for him,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “The guy prepares and just does what he does right now.”

Here’s a look at some exclusive groups Riley could soon join:

Extra-base record
Riley has tallied 24 of his MLB-leading 59 extra-base hits in July. Aaron Judge ranks second among all MLB players this month with 17 extra-base hits.

With this great surge, Riley is now on pace to record 95 extra-base hits, which would best the franchise record Aaron set with 92 XBH in 1959. Riley’s total through the team’s first 101 games ranks second only to the 69 XBH Aaron totaled through this same span in ‘59.

“At the end of the day, as long as we’re winning ball games, I’m happy,” Riley said. “If I can contribute in any way, that’s what they have me here to do.”

Consecutive 30-homer seasons
Riley’s dad was a punter who went to training camp with the Lions in 1992 and ‘93. He wouldn’t have liked the hang time (3.4 seconds) on his son’s first-inning solo shot off Bumgarner. But the 110.3 mph liner reached its target as it stayed just inside the left-field foul pole.

Riley is now just one home run away from joining Chipper Jones (2000-01) and Andruw Jones (2000-03 and 2005-06) as the only Braves to have consecutive 30-homer seasons this century.

Riley hit .303 with 33 homers last year.

He has a chance to join Aaron (11 times), Chipper Jones (five times), Eddie Mathews (three times), Freddie Freeman (twice) and Dale Murphy (twice) as the only players in franchise history to hit .300 with 30-plus homers in multiple seasons.

“Any time he steps in the box, you just wonder how far he is going to hit it,” Wright said. “He’s locked in, and I’m glad he’s on our team.”

40/40
Reaching Andruw Jones’ franchise-record 51 homers isn’t out of the question, but Riley is currently on pace for 46 homers.

Riley exited Friday’s game with 29 homers and 29 doubles.

He joins Chris Davis (2013), Derrek Lee (2005), Albert Pujols (2003) and Carlos Delgado (2000) as the only players this century to reach this total in both categories by their first 101 games of a season.

If Riley extends his productive ways, he’ll join Chipper Jones as the only players in Braves history with 40 homers and 40 doubles in the same season.

Jones won the MVP Award when he did this in 1999. Riley could do the same this year.