#atlanta-braves

#atlanta-braves

This morning, we are going to sidestep what is bound to be the most prominent discussion over the next six-plus weeks regarding the Braves' choice of managerial future, and ask a tangential question: who's your favorite current MLB manager?

...You can never have enough [pitching]. And it definitely will be a point of emphasis for us this winter.

The Braves didn't make any rotation moves of note last winter. Atlanta's only significant offseason expenditure was the three-year Jurickson Profar signing. Anthopoulos pointed out that Grant Holmes pitched well before suffering a season-ending elbow injury. Atlanta entered the season with a strong top four of , Spencer Strider (once he completed his rehab from last year's elbow surgery), Spencer Schwellenbach and AJ Smith-Shawver. That would be a good group if everyone had stayed healthy, but that's obviously not how things played out.

Multiple reports have indicated that the Atlanta Braves have claimed right-handed pitcher Alexis Días off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Díaz, 28, was the closer for the Cincinnati Reds from 2022 to 2024 collecting 75 saves over those three seasons. An All-Star in 2023, he finished fifth in the National League Rookie of the Year award in 2022. Díaz struggled with a high walk rate during his time with the Reds, who traded him to the Dodgers in May.

Bryce Elder is coming off two starts where he hasn't been victimized at all by HR/FB, so he's up to 0.4 fWAR after sitting at a flat zero before then. So, there's hope for pretty much anyone. But this isn't really a question about Elder. Michael Harris II will presumably avoid the worst self-slash-team-inflicted slump of all time next year (but maybe not).

Before the Atlanta Braves took on the division leading Phillies, their bats had been pretty hot. That was thanks to Jurickson Profar playing out of his mind, the Michael Harris resurgence, Drake Baldwin continuing to do his thing, Matt Olson staying steady as always, and Ozzie Albies deciding to finally hit. It also always helps when you have the all-world talent of Ronald Acuña Jr. on your side.

Thankfully, with questions abound coming off the suspension, Profar has been excellent since returning in early July. His numbers are equal to - if not better - than his career breakout season in 2024 with the Padres. His slugging numbers are through the roof, and he's walked more times than he's struck out since returning. His defense has even been less shaky over the last few weeks.

The team arrived in Atlanta to play a talented-but-underachieving Braves team and hoping to right the ship. Everything was going according to plan in Monday's series opener. The White Sox bats came out hot and knocked Atlanta starter Spencer Strider out of the game in the fourth inning. By the sixth, the Sox held a 10-1 lead, and it felt out of reach for the Braves.