Since the 2018 season, the Braves are no strangers to putting up great numbers in the regular season, and they have stayed consistent in the top two spots, mostly in the top spot, in the National League East Division. The 2024 campaign so far isn’t any different.
In six series so far to start the season, The Braves are 12-5, and have swept two of the series (ARI, at HOU), won two out of three games at PHI, MIA, and split at CHW, and lost two out of three games to NYM. The Braves have been in every game this season except for the rubber matchup versus the Mets, where the team was out of it from first pitch, losing 4-16.
Yesterday was an off day coming off of the Houston Astros sweep where the team looked dominant all three games. The Braves are back home today for a nine game homestand beginning with the (10-9) Texas Rangers tonight.
Second baseman Ozzie Albies is still on the shelf with a fractured big toe. He was placed on the 10-day IL a couple of days ago after being hit on the toe on a pitch during the first game of the Houston Astros series. He’s a tough player as he finished out the remainder of the game, but felt something wasn’t right. Utility player Luis Guillorme, who the Braves picked up from the Mets during the offseason has filled in nicely with a few hits and RBIs so far during his time playing in place of Albies
Starting Pitching Needs a Lift
Starting pitching for the Braves has not started on a good note. Ace Spencer Strider has gone down with a UCL tear, and is out for the season after surgery. Recovery time is 6-12 months. The next ace for the Braves, Max Fried, didn’t get out of the first inning at Philadelphia the second game of the season. His second start at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks saw Fried go 4.1 inning giving up eight runs. All runs were charged to Fried, but Braves ended up winning the game 9-8. New starter Chris Sale and Charlie Morton have both had good and bad starts. With Strider going down, the fifth starter has gone back and forth from Reynaldo Lopez and Darius Vines. Lopez and Vines have been the most consistent. In the second game of the Astros series, Lopez pitched 6 scoreless inning for the win.
Relief pitching has come up big early and late in games due to the ineffectiveness of the starting pitching. Former night shift pitchers from the 2021 World Series team, AJ Minter, Jesse Chavez, and Tyler Matzek have all come up big for the Braves so far this season.
Braves Battery Still in Charge
The Braves bats are still what fuels this team. This lineup can hurt you from top to bottom. Currently the player that is red hot id DH Marcell Ozuna. Since the May series of 2023 at Miami, he has been red hot, which has carried over this year. He is currently hitting .352 with eight homeruns and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 1.135. He has carried this team the first 17 games. It showed this past Sunday at Miami, when the Braves were down to their last swing. It was the top of the ninth inning and the Marlins were winning 7-6. It was two outs, two men on base, and the count was 2-2 on Ozuna. The next pitch he belted to left centerfield for a 3-run homer and Braves win, 9-7 for the series win.
Current averages and OPS going into tonight’s game, Fri, April 19, 2024:
- R. Acuna-RF: .294
- O. Albies-2B (IL): .317 avg; .878 OPS
- A. Riley-3B: .284 avg; .838 OPS
- M. Olson-1B: .261 avg; .884 OPS
- M. Ozuna-DH: .352 avg; 1.135 OPS
- M. Harris II-CF: .276 avg; 746 OPS
- T. d’Arnaud-C: .200 avg; .561 OPS
- O. Arcia-SS: .377 avg; .969 OPS
- J. Kelenic/A. Duvall-LF: .359 avg; .855 OPS/.240 avg; .755 OPS
Consistency
Year in and year out the Braves win the NL East Division. Currently, the team has won the division six straight years (2018 – 2023), but only won the prize in 2021. If you remember, the the Braves won 14 straight divisions from (1991 – 2005). From 1991 – 1993 the Braves were in the NL West, 1994 was a strike year, 1995 (WS) – 2005 in NL East. In 20 years of winning the division in Atlanta, the Braves only have two World Series Championships. Need to have better consistency in the playoffs.
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