Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves held a players-only meeting on Tuesday prior to their home game against the Cincinnati Reds, per David O’Brien of The Athletic.
David O’Brien @DOBrienATL
#Braves are having a team meeting right now. Highly unusual for them to have a team-wide meeting at this time before a game.
The 54-45 Braves sit second in the National League East after losing three straight and six of their last nine. The offense has scored just 23 runs over the past eight contests, including two shutouts and a 4-1 loss to Cincinnati on Monday.
Obviously, Atlanta had greater expectations going into this season after winning 104 games last year and retaining the core which led to that success, but injuries have significantly lowered the team’s ceiling.
Of note, reigning National League MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. suffered a torn ACL (the second of his career) in May, ending his season. Staff ace and 2023 20-game winner Spencer Strider made just two starts before he underwent internal brace surgery to fix the UCL in his right (pitching) elbow. And outfielder Michael Harris Jr. has been out for over a month with a Grade 2 hamstring strain.
Now second baseman Ozzie Albies (left wrist fracture) and starting pitcher Max Fried (left forearm neuritis) are out. Albies is expected to miss eight weeks, while Fried, who is on the 15-day injured list, doesn’t yet have a timetable for a return.
The Braves are still in good shape for a wild card spot, sitting first in that race. But right now, there are six teams within four games of each other in the standings fighting for the three NL wild card spots, so the Braves can’t afford to be complacent or continue this slide for much longer.
Ultimately, there’s only so much a shorthanded team missing multiple stars can do expect perform to their abilities. The problem is Atlanta’s bats have significantly struggled, none more than Matt Olson, who is 1-for-33 in his last nine games.
Shortshop Orlando Arcia (.212 batting average, .577 OPS) and outfielder Adam Duvall (.183, .563 OPS) have also had down years. The team as a whole has posted a .707 OPS, only eighth-best in the 15-team National League.
The pitching staff is keeping the team afloat, though, led by staff ace and All-Star Chris Sale. Closer Raisel Iglesias has also paced a stellar bullpen on a pitching staff with the National League’s top ERA (3.46). If they maintain their form in the second half, then Atlanta should still comfortably land a playoff spot. And if the bats get going and the team gets some key pieces back before October, then Atlanta could even be a World Series threat again.
But right now, the team is still in rough shape, and it’s clear the players feel a sense of urgency. The Braves will look to get back on the winning track Wednesday night when they host Cincinnati.