3 things the Braves learned from their sweeping and outslugging loss at Dodger Stadium
LOS ANGELES Over the past few years, Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker has stated multiple times that his team is designed to smash home runs rather than create runs by playing station-to-station baseball.
The issue with that is that the Braves haven’t been scoring lately when they don’t slug. They also fail to prevail.
They played the Los Angeles Dodgers and Seattle Mariners on a 1-5 trip, hitting just three home runs. They lost the series at Dodger Stadium, losing 20-6 and 9-3.After trailing 4-0, Marcell Ozuna’s home run in the seventh inning on Sunday provided the Braves’ lone offensive source in a 5-1 loss.
Without a doubt, we’re having offensive difficulties, Snitker stated. “Haven’t been operating at full capacity. It takes place. The guys are putting in a lot of effort and doing everything correctly; unfortunately, it’s not showing on the field at this time. You experience that.
The Braves dropped to 2 1/2 games behind the Phillies in the NL East, which is the most they had fallen from atop the standings since they were 2 1/2 games behind the Mets on September 23, 2022.
A few observations following the poor Braves trip and weekend series:
The lack of power persists
The Braves carried on a pattern with three home runs on the trip. They established an MLB single-season record in 2023 with 307 home runs, but now tie for 18th with 32 in 32 games this season. Compared to the Dodgers’ NL-best 47 home runs in 36 games, it is 15 fewer.
The Braves have hit seven home runs in 13 games during the last 15 days, ranking 30th out of 30 teams, and have tied for 27th place in runs scored with 42.Matt Olson hasn’t hit a home run since April 7. Meanwhile, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Austin Riley hit their first and second home runs of the season on Friday, respectively. Acuña had 41 in his last season as the National League MVP.
During the course of the last 15 days, the Braves have hit one-third as many home runs as the Dodgers (21) in the same number of games. This is astonishing, especially when you consider that the Braves have faced tough pitching in games against the Dodgers, Cleveland, and Seattle.
We’re fairly excellent hitters, though I think part of it is pitching,” Snitker remarked. “All we’re doing is getting into a little bit of an offensive rut. If this year we experience it just once, we’ll be fortunate. It occurs more than once most of the time. We play for six months because of this. All you have to do is persevere.
With a.742 OPS, the Braves are still fourth in MLB, but during the last 15 days, their.579 OPS is third lowest.
Snitker declared, “We’re an offensive club, a slug team.” “We will do that; we haven’t been doing it.”
Olson is irritated by the decline
Olson is hitting.197 with three home runs, 16 RBIs, and a.676 OPS in 32 games after going 2-for-18 during the trip. Last season, he hit.283 with a.993 OPS and led the majors in home runs (54), RBIs (139), and total bases (139).
His rate of hard hits is still high, and he has recently nearly hit home runs on a number of fly balls, including two on Sunday. However, it is still true that in the previous 24 games. With no home runs, he is 13 for 84 (.155).
Olson stated, “Look, you don’t want to be hitting below.200.” However, it is where we are right now, so we must keep going. You constantly feel like you’re only a few swings away. Perhaps let a few balls drop and keep them fair. However, it feels better now. Just keep moving in the correct direction.
He acknowledged that it has been challenging lately.
Following his outing in the seventh inning on Sunday when attempting to extend a single to a double, and his fielding mistake in the eighth, Olson declared, “This game is one that will always find a way to humble you.” “What has transpired has transpired. Cannot address it at this time. Simply focus and work to correct your course, keeping in mind that there is still a significant amount of the season remaining.
Acuña discovering his rhythm?
After going 7-for-42 (.167) with one extra-base hit and no RBIs in his previous 11 games, Acuña is 7-for-17 with a double, home run, and two RBIs in his last four games. On Sunday, he was hitless and walked. However, Acuña had five hits in the series’ first two games.
After striking out 13 times and walking none of the previous five games, he had two strikeouts and two walks in the series.
Regarding Acuña’s first three-hit game of the season, Snitker stated, “I felt his at-bats (Saturday) were extremely excellent.” “He established such a high standard that everyone will be asking me why if he performs anything less than spectacular. The truth is that he puts in just as much effort at work as the others do. He’s playing excellent defense, scoring a ton of runs, and making a contribution. The offensive stuff will come. And this past weekend, I felt he made progress in the correct way.
