The Braves’ once-comfortable advantage over the division-rival New York Mets for the final slot in the National League Wild Card race has quickly shrunk to just 0.5 games. The Braves aren’t used to being in this position this late in the season, but everything is still there for the taking, and baseball, as we see virtually annually, has an odd way of selecting a World Series champion.
Anything can happen once you’re in the dance, but the Braves have to go there first. Given the way the Mets, Padres, and Diamondbacks have been playing lately, it will require them to play their best baseball of the year to secure a postseason berth. A few offensive players need to step up their games for that to occur.
Second Michael Harris
There were rumors early in the season that Michael Harris II may surprise everyone by winning the MVP award. Nothing is lacking in his game. In addition to playing excellent centerfield defense, he can steal bases and hit for average and power. All the signs point to his becoming a rising star if he pulls everything together.
Unfortunately, he has missed a large portion of the season due to injury, much like most Braves. Now that he’s returned, though, it’s time for him to launch an offensive campaign. He has performed exceptionally well while wearing the glove in centerfield. The bat can take a lot longer to fire up, but the Braves are short on time at the moment.
The Braves need Michael Harris II to be at his best for the remainder of the season. The player who finished 2023 with 96 games played and a.902 OPS while hitting.332.
Jorge Soler
Although Jorge Soler has never been a consistent hitter, there may not be a more intimidating player in the batter’s box when he is on his game. In an attempt to recreate the magic he brought to the team in 2021, the Braves acquired him at the trade deadline.
He’s only hitting.181 so far in Atlanta, but he does have five home runs, thirteen RBIs, and a.706 OPS in just 24 starts. But the Braves will need him to resemble the man who won the 2021 World Series MVP award if they want to make it to the postseason.
Sean Murphy
A player whose 2024 campaign has also been hampered by injury, Sean Murphy’s trade seems to be getting worse every day. Despite playing in only 59 games this season, he has eight home runs and a.215 batting average.
Murphy was never supposed to be the offensive equivalent of William Contreras by the Braves. Murphy’s calling card is the defense of the plate. Even so, a just year after posting an.844 OPS, he’s lowering all of his career records with the bat. Given the absence of so many of their key players, the Braves are in dire need of an offensive spark from their starting catcher.
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