It’s been a rocky ride, but the Atlanta Braves may finally be finding their groove—and Saturday’s 7-0 win over the Miami Marlins was another strong step in the right direction. With Ronald Acuña Jr. back in MVP form and young catcher Drake Baldwin delivering the biggest swing of the day, the Braves delivered a complete performance on both sides of the ball.
Acuña’s Spark Sets the Braves Tone
It didn’t take long for Ronald Acuña Jr. to make his presence felt. The reigning NL MVP reached base four times—two hits, two walks—and continued his post-injury surge with a hustle-fueled night that energized the Atlanta offense.
He drew a leadoff walk in the first, then bolted all the way home from first base on Marcell Ozuna’s laser-beam double to the right-field corner. That kind of speed and aggression is classic Acuña—and it’s been a game-changer since his return on May 23.
Since being reinstated from the IL, Acuña has reached base in 25 of 26 games. That’s not just impressive—it’s foundational. When he’s on, the Braves are simply a different team.
Baldwin Goes Boom, Holmes Grinds
The Braves were already in control heading into the ninth. Atlanta was leading 4-0, but Drake Baldwin made sure there was no doubt they were going to seal the win. The rookie catcher launched a three-run homer off Marlins reliever Josh Simpson to seal the deal. It was a clutch swing that capped off an all-around clean day for Atlanta’s lineup.
On the mound was Grant Holmes. He wasn’t perfect, but he was plenty effective. The right-hander battled through five walks across 5 2/3 innings, striking out five and allowing five hits. But he never let the Marlins string anything together. Credit the bullpen, too. Enyel De Los Santos, Dylan Lee, and Rafael Montero combined for 3 1/3 scoreless frames to complete the shutout.
Sale’s Absence Looms, But Atlanta Pushes Forward
Saturday’s win came on the heels of unfortunate news—the Braves placing ace Chris Sale on the injured list with a fractured rib cage. The timing couldn’t be worse, as Sale had been dominant in June and looked poised for another All-Star nod. But the Braves didn’t flinch.
Instead, they played a clean game, leaned on contributions up and down the lineup, and continued a desperately needed winning trend. With victories in seven of their last nine, Atlanta is quietly climbing out of the hole they dug earlier this month when they bottomed out at 10 games under .500.
Now, at 35-40, the Braves are finally showing signs of life. With Acuña igniting the top of the order, Baldwin providing fresh impact, and the pitching staff stepping up even without their ace, there’s reason to believe this could be the start of a real push.
