Here we are in late May 2025, and if you’re an Atlanta Braves fan, you’ve probably been pacing in front of the TV like a nervous dad in the delivery room.
Sitting at 25-28, the Braves are stuck smack in the middle of “meh” territory—third in the NL East and staring up at the red-hot Phillies, who have built themselves an eight-and-a-half game cushion. It’s not panic time yet, but let’s just say the warning lights are flickering.
The good news? Ronald Acuña Jr. is still doing Ronald Acuña Jr. things—he’s been that spark plug the Braves desperately need at the top of the order. But outside of that? It’s been a grind. Like, hiking-uphill-in-the-rain kind of grind.
Orlando Arcia No Longer in Atlanta
Yeah, it finally happened. Arcia, the former All-Star and once heir to Dansby Swanson’s shortstop throne was released after being designated for assignment. Braves fans will remember the flashes—the 2023 surge, the glove work—but this season? It just wasn’t there.
Poor offense, declining defense, and virtually no impact on the base paths sealed the deal. Nick Allen took over the everyday role, and once that baton passed, Arcia’s days in Atlanta were numbered. The team still owes him $2.37 million, but he took to Instagram to send his thanks and love to the fans—a classy move in an unceremonious exit.
Ozzie Albies Finally Heating Up
After a sluggish start that had his average in the .200 gutter, Albies has caught fire with an 11-game hit streak. In that stretch? A .366 average, four doubles, and an OPS knocking on .900’s door. This isn’t just a hot streak—it’s historic.
Albies just passed Glenn Hubbard for the most hits by a second baseman in Braves history, and he’s sitting pretty at 990 career hits. Is he all the way back? Not quite—his OPS still needs juice—but it’s trending in the right direction at a time when the Braves need it most.
Braves Sign New Pitcher
Atlanta scooped up the right-handed reliever on a minor league deal and sent him down to Double-A Columbus. Jose Cuas is no stranger to the majors—he’s logged innings with the Royals, Cubs, Blue Jays, and most recently, was in Triple-A with the Phillies. Control issues led to his release.
His arsenal inscludes a sinker, four-seamer, sweeper, and changeup. Sounds like another potential reclamation special. We’ve seen the Braves try this route before—sometimes it clicks, sometimes it doesn’t. But hey, you can never have too many arms stashed for the long haul.
So there it is—some ups, some downs, and a whole lotta questions. The Braves are teetering on the edge of relevance in the division race. If they want to be taken seriously, it starts now.
