ATLANTA — The Braves’ lineup ought to enhance as soon as Michael Harris II returns from the injured listing inside the subsequent few weeks. There’s additionally an opportunity president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos will land a top quality hitter earlier than the July 30 Commerce Deadline.
However somewhat greater than midway by way of this season, it’s time to just accept this Atlanta offense received’t be the juggernaut it was final 12 months.
Spencer Schwellenbach surrendered a pair of two-run homers within the fifth inning of a 4-2 loss to the Pirates on Sunday afternoon at Truist Park. This wouldn’t have been a lot of an issue final 12 months. However this 12 months’s injury-depleted lineup has had bother overcoming even slim deficits.
“You already know what the blokes are able to,” Braves supervisor Brian Snitker stated. “They only haven’t put it collectively for an prolonged interval, the place it flows. That’s the onerous half.”
Shedding Ronald Acuña Jr. to a season-ending knee damage on Could 26 all however assured this group wasn’t going to slug over .500 and hit 300-plus homers for a second straight season. However the month that adopted has confirmed dropping the 2023 Nationwide League MVP is much from this offense’s solely challenge.
The Braves have scored two or fewer runs 24 occasions this 12 months, together with 4 occasions of their previous 5 video games. This matches their 2023 whole of such showings.
“Yearly is completely different,” Braves third baseman Austin Riley stated. “You undergo your challenges. I really feel like we nonetheless haven’t totally clicked offensively up and down the lineup.”
With Jarred Kelenic, Ozzie Albies, Marcell Ozuna, Matt Olson and Riley filling the lineup’s first 5 spots, the Braves have loads of succesful run-producers. However Harris’ absence mixed with the struggles endured by Adam Duvall, Sean Murphy and Orlando Arcia have created a gap on the backside of the order.
Together with not producing manufacturing on the backside of their order, the Braves are usually not creating extra alternatives for the highest of their lineup.
“You don’t need these guys on the prime feeling like they’ve to hold the entire load,” Snitker stated. “I believe after we get Michael again, it would do loads for us.”
Harris, who strained his left hamstring on June 14, was not too long ago cleared to swing off a tee and play catch. He nonetheless hasn’t resumed any operating workouts. However he could also be out there to return quickly after the All-Star break.
It needs to be famous that Kelenic has greater than capably crammed Harris’ roles as a leadoff hitter and heart fielder. He has hit .328 with a .980 OPS since shifting to the highest of the lineup on June 15. Murphy has additionally proven some indicators of life, producing a .960 OPS throughout this stretch. However no different Braves common has constructed an OPS of .700 or higher inside this two-week span.
“It’s been powerful to sort of get a giant hit,” Snitker stated. “I used to be feeling fairly good about at the moment.”
It appeared just like the Braves may need turned a nook once they scored six or extra runs six occasions whereas going 7-1 from June 13-21. However the offense has taken a step again over the previous week. Fatigue might be enjoying a component. A Tuesday evening rainout compelled a Wednesday doubleheader in St. Louis. This was adopted by a fast journey to Chicago for a make-up recreation in opposition to the White Sox on Thursday afternoon.
The Braves scored one run within the second recreation of the doubleheader after which wasted a Chris Sale gem, as they suffered a 1-0 loss in opposition to the White Sox bullpen arms. A five-run inning in Friday evening’s win over Pittsburgh solely halted the bleeding. A ghost runner scored the second run in Saturday’s 2-1 win over the Pirates in 10 innings.
Duvall ended Saturday’s win with a drive that bounced in opposition to the right-center-field wall. It was a much-needed morale increase for the veteran outfielder, who has hit .169 with a .535 OPS this 12 months. He has a .892 OPS in 91 plate appearances in opposition to left-handed pitchers and an ugly .240 OPS in 106 plate appearances in opposition to right-handed pitchers.
Duvall can’t be counted on as an on a regular basis participant. So discovering an outfielder needs to be on the prime of Anthopoulos’ precedence listing because the Commerce Deadline nears. Arcia’s .582 OPS isn’t fairly, however his glove at the very least compensates for a few of his offensive shortcomings.
Including only one piece may give the lineup the size it must again a robust pitching workers that was answerable for this weekend’s collection win.
“We took two out of three,” Riley stated. “You’ll be able to’t complain about that. We get an off-day. We’ll refresh, regroup and prepare for Tuesday.”
