If you haven't checked the box scores lately, looking at the Atlanta Braves batting order right now might feel a little like walking into your favorite hometown diner only to find out they’ve completely changed the menu. Same building, maybe even the same manager in the dugout, but the names and the vibes? They’re shifting.
Basically, the 2025 season was a brutal gauntlet of "what if" scenarios that mostly ended in "ouch." We watched Ronald Acuña Jr. battle back from an ACL tear only to deal with calf issues, while Austin Riley’s power numbers dipped during an injury-shortened campaign. Now, as we stare down the barrel of 2026, new manager Walt Weiss—who took the reins after Brian Snitker moved to an advisory role—is piecing together a puzzle that looks remarkably different from the World Series-winning juggernaut we remember.
The Acuña Effect and the Top of the Order
Everything in Atlanta starts and ends with Ronald Acuña Jr. When he's healthy, he's the best leadoff hitter in baseball, period. But honestly, the 2025 version of Acuña wasn't the "70 stolen bases" guy. He was more of a "hit 20 homers in 90 games" guy while being incredibly cautious on the basepaths.
For 2026, Weiss seems intent on keeping Acuña at the top, but the protection behind him has changed. Instead of the familiar Ozzie Albies at the two-spot, we’re seeing a rotation that often features Matt Olson moving up. It’s a move that feels kinda bold, but when you look at Olson’s "ironman" consistency—playing nearly every single game for four years straight—it makes sense to give your most reliable bat the most plate appearances.
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The Projected Daily Grind
- Ronald Acuña Jr. (RF): The engine. Even at 85% speed, his OBP is a weapon.
- Matt Olson (1B): The steady hand. He’s coming off a 2025 bounce-back where he regained his power stroke.
- Austin Riley (3B): The big question mark. He’s looking to prove that his .428 slugging last year was an injury-induced fluke.
- Drake Baldwin / Sean Murphy (C/DH): The youth movement. Baldwin’s emergence has pushed Murphy into a shared role, often rotating between catching and the DH spot.
- Jurickson Profar (LF): The veteran glue. A switch-hitter who provides much-needed OBP depth.
- Ozzie Albies (2B): Still a fan favorite, though he’s slotting lower in the order to take pressure off his recent hand injuries.
- Michael Harris II (CF): Looking to erase a "sophomore slump" style season and find some consistency.
- Ha-Seong Kim / Mauricio Dubon (SS): The defensive anchors. Whether it's the high-profile Kim or the utility-master Dubon, this spot is about glove first.
- Jarred Kelenic / Mike Yastrzemski (OF): The bottom of the order "wild cards."
Why the Middle of the Order is a High-Stakes Gamble
There's no sugarcoating it: the Atlanta Braves batting order lives or dies by the health of Austin Riley's core. In 2023, he was an MVP candidate. In 2025, his 1.7 fWAR was a gut punch to a team that expects greatness from the hot corner. He’s under contract until 2033, and if he doesn't return to that 30-homer, .500-slugging form, the middle of this lineup starts to look real thin real fast.
Then you have the "Catcher Dilemma." Drake Baldwin isn't just a prospect anymore; he’s a necessity. His bat was too good to keep in Triple-A, but you still have Sean Murphy, who is one of the best defensive catchers in the league when his hip isn't barking. Walt Weiss is basically playing a nightly game of Tetris trying to get both of their bats into the lineup without burning them out. You'll see a lot of "Catcher A starts, Catcher B DHs" this year.
The Switch-Hitting Safety Net
One thing the Braves did right this offseason was leaning into versatility. By slotting Jurickson Profar and Ozzie Albies around the fifth and sixth spots, they’ve made it a nightmare for opposing managers to use situational lefties.
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Profar, specifically, was a sneaky-good pickup. He’s the kind of guy who doesn't mind a 10-pitch walk, which is exactly what you want when the guys at the top are aggressive swingers. It lengthens the inning. It tires out the starter. It's the "boring" baseball that wins games in October.
Addressing the Shortstop Gap
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: shortstop. Ever since Dansby Swanson left, it’s felt like a revolving door. The 2025 season showed just how much a lack of production at short can hurt a team’s bottom line.
While the Braves have high-school phenoms like Cam Caminiti in the pipeline, those kids aren't helping the big league club in 2026. This is why the Ha-Seong Kim signing (or the reliance on a guy like Mauricio Dubon) is so critical. They don't need a superstar at the bottom of the order; they just need someone who won't be an automatic out and can handle a ground ball without making fans hold their breath.
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Key Takeaways for the 2026 Season
If you're tracking this team daily, here is what you actually need to watch for to see if this lineup is working:
- Acuña’s Sprint Speed: If he isn't stealing bases, the Braves lose their primary "chaos" factor. Watch if he starts taking the extra base on balls to the gap.
- Riley’s Exit Velocity: He was still hitting the ball hard last year (91st percentile), but he was whiffing too much. If the strikeouts come down in April, he’s back.
- The Baldwin/Murphy Split: If Baldwin takes over the majority of the starts behind the plate, it might signal that the team is ready to move Murphy in a mid-season trade to bolster the bullpen.
- The Bottom Third: Michael Harris II needs to stop the "hot and cold" streaks. If the 7-8-9 hitters are putting up a .320 OBP, the top of the order will feast.
The reality is that the Braves are currently an "85-win team" on paper, which feels weird to say. They have a massive ceiling if everyone stays healthy, but as we’ve seen, health is never a guarantee in Georgia.
Next Steps for Braves Fans:
Monitor the early Spring Training box scores for the strikeout rates of Austin Riley and Michael Harris II. Their ability to make consistent contact—rather than just "selling out" for power—will determine if the Braves can reclaim the NL East crown from the Phillies or if 2026 will be another year of "just enough" to make the Wild Card.