The Atlanta Braves no longer have the kind of cushion that once made the National League East feel firmly under their control. What looked like another comfortable division race has tightened considerably, and with the All-Star break approaching, the front office may be forced to make difficult decisions if the club wants to stay ahead of the competition.
The Philadelphia Phillies have erased much of the ground they lost after opening the season with a disastrous 9-19 record. Entering Monday, Philadelphia sat just two games behind Atlanta despite that miserable start. The Miami Marlins have also worked their way back into the picture after a strong June and now trail the division lead by only four games. With both rivals gaining momentum, the pressure on Atlanta continues to grow.
Dominic Smith’s Early Braves Success Has Vanished
That changing landscape could push the Braves to reevaluate several spots on the roster, including designated hitter and outfielder Dominic Smith.
Recent reports believe Smith may have reached the end of the road in Atlanta. His argument centers on the simple reality that Smith was brought in to provide offense, and that production has disappeared over the past several weeks.
“Smith is borderline unplayable in the field, especially with almost every first base dedicated to Matt Olson. He’s there to swing the bat, and right now, he’s doing so in a counterproductive way,” one reporter wrote. “The Braves probably need to bite the bullet on the idea of Smith as a late-career breakout.”
Earlier in the season, it looked as though Smith had found a new home. He hit .339 in April and followed that by batting .310 in May, giving Atlanta a productive left-handed bat and creating optimism that he had rediscovered the form that once made him one of baseball’s more intriguing hitters.
Production Has Fallen Off Dramatically
That momentum has completely disappeared. Smith posted just a .508 OPS with one home run during June, and his struggles have continued into July. According to reports, Smith has posted a .490 OPS since the calendar turned to June, a steep decline for a player whose primary responsibility is to produce at the plate.
“Injuries have kept Smith locked in the DH spot, as Atlanta needs every functional right-handed bat it can get”. “However, he has a .490 OPS since the calendar flipped to June”, one journalist wrote.
Atlanta has continued giving Smith ooportunities in part because injuries have limited the club’s flexibility. Even so, the Braves cannot afford prolonged offensive droughts from players occupying everyday lineup spots while the division race becomes increasingly competitive.
Braves May Have Difficult Decisions Ahead
Smith is not the only concern. Shortstop Ha Seong-Kim has also struggled offensively, leaving Atlanta with two lineup positions providing little production. That combination has made it more difficult for the Braves to consistently capitalize on the middle of their order, placing additional pressure on the team’s biggest offensive contributors.
With the trade deadline approaching shortly after the All-Star break, Atlanta’s front office will have to determine whether patience is still justified or whether changes are necessary to keep pace in a division that has become far more competitive than many expected. If the recent trends continue, both Smith and Kim could find themselves on the outside looking in as the Braves search for answers during the second half of the season.
