The Atlanta Braves are searching for that familiar spark — the one that’s powered them to seven straight postseason appearances and made them the class of the National League for much of the last decade.
The start to their 2025 campaign has felt sluggish, disjointed, and just a little off. But if the front office has proven anything, it’s that they know how to time a pivot. And a pair of key returns — and one blockbuster possibility — could be exactly what’s needed to kickstart another October run.
Strider Returns to Braves, Acuña Close Behind
First, the good news: Spencer Strider is back. Atlanta’s ace took the mound Tuesday after a second IL stint. While the results weren’t vintage Strider — four earned runs in just over four innings — the importance of simply having him back on the mound can’t be overstated.
Strider changes the shape of the rotation, giving it a backbone and providing much-needed stability. Even when he’s not dominant, his presence alone lifts the rest of the staff.
Then there’s Ronald Acuña Jr., who’s reportedly been on a tear in his minor league rehab assignment. The team has been careful with his recovery from a season-ending knee injury, but his return is looming, and with it comes a jolt of energy the lineup has clearly missed.
Acuña isn’t just a star — he’s the spark plug, the lightning rod, the guy who can flip a game on one swing or one sprint.
Life After Ozuna? Enter Schwarber
Of course, short-term firepower is one thing. Long-term sustainability is another. And that’s where the Marcell Ozuna situation comes in. The Braves’ designated hitter has been mashing again in 2025, following up his 39-homer All-Star campaign with more thunder at the plate.
But Ozuna is set to hit free agency at season’s end. If his market heats up, the Braves may not be able (or willing) to match the offers. That’s where Kyle Schwarber enters the picture.
According to The Athletic’s Jim Bowden, if Ozuna walks, the Braves could be a top contender for Schwarber’s services. And it makes perfect sense. Schwarber isn’t just comparable to Ozuna — in some ways, he’s an upgrade.
He’s hit 38 or more home runs in each of the last three seasons and leads MLB with 17 homers so far in 2025. Just last week, he reached the 300 career home run milestone.
A Power Move With Extra Incentives
Adding Schwarber wouldn’t just fill a potential void in Atlanta’s lineup — it would do serious damage to a division rival. Taking that level of production away from Philadelphia while injecting it into your own lineup is the kind of two-for-one punch that shifts power dynamics.
The Braves and Phillies are on a collision course for postseason matchups year after year, and this move would be felt in both dugouts.
It’s the type of aggressive play Atlanta has rarely shied away from in the Alex Anthopoulos era. If the team sees a potential hole and a way to fill it, even at the expense of a rival, they’ll pull the trigger.
Eyes on October, But Braves Planning Beyond
In the short term, the Braves are focused on getting their stars healthy and climbing the standings. But the front office has eyes on 2026 and beyond, too. Whether Ozuna is part of that picture remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: if he isn’t, Kyle Schwarber might be.
