Two steps back, one stride forward. That is a description of the Atlanta Braves’ 2024 season that is factual. After three straight losses, the team’s six-point winning streak from last week seems like a distant memory.
Once more, Bryce Elder struggled. Tuesday night marked the second straight game the Braves were shut out at home. Since the fourth inning of Saturday’s game against the Marlins, they have been outscored 20-0. Elder was asked to give Chris Sale and the other players in the rotation an extra day off. The team has stuck to this plan even as the competition for the Wild Card spot has become more competitive. Atlanta holds the final Wild Card place going into Wednesday’s action. They trail the Arizona Diamondbacks by half a game and the San Diego Padres by a game. With one game remaining, the Braves lead the currently outside-looking-in New York Mets by 1.5.
Following Tuesday’s defeat, Brian Snitker made a suggestion that, once Reynaldo Lopez returns from the injured list later this month, they might go back to using a traditional five-man rotation.
While it’s reasonable to question the rotational plan, this team’s inability to score has been the cause of its downfall from the start of May. Wednesday will be Sale’s third start of the second half, but if this squad can’t find a way to score some runs, then nothing he does matters.
The home run had given Atlanta’s offense a boost before the losing skid. The Braves had a high of sixth before the three-game slide, and they are currently ranked eighth in terms of home runs. The number that counts, runs scored for the season, is only 25th, and they are behind in that category. Many shortcomings may be concealed by a homer, and this is a lineup that looks like it has been looking for its identity for months.
Since being acquired by the Braves at the trade deadline, Jorge Soler hasn’t given them the instant lift they were hoping for. Through six games, Soler is 3-for-20 with three walks, eight strikeouts, and no extra-base hits. In July, Matt Olson only managed a 70 wRC+. He had two doubles in Tuesday’s loss, but they did not result in any runs. He is off to a solid start in August. Since June 1, Austin Riley has amassed a 145 wRC+, but this lineup still has far too many gaps. It is unsettling to consider the state of affairs in the absence of Marcell Ozuna’s contributions, who has likely contributed more to his team than any other National League player.
Last week, Sale played the Brewers, giving up two runs in five and a half innings while striking out six. In the first inning, both runs were scored. Since the All-Star break, he’s given up only four runs in total in his two starts, and he hasn’t given up more than two in nine consecutive games. Freddy Peralta of the Brewers will counter; he faced the Braves last week as well and gave up two runs while striking out
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