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Atlanta Braves

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Sean Murphy Sean Murphy Provides only offense in loss Mon, Jun 30, 2025, 9:02 AM Murphy went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's loss to the Phillies. Analysis: His second-inning shot off Ranger Suarez gave Atlanta a 1-0 lead, but the team's bats were quiet the rest of the afternoon. Murphy has gone yard in back-to-back games, giving him 11 homers on the season as he continues to split reps with rookie Drake Baldwin. Neither backstop made a consistent impact in June however -- Murphy slashed .217/.283/.391 in 53 plate appearances on the month, while Baldwin sported a .200/.323/.418 line in 65 PAs.
Daysbel Hernandez Daysbel Hernandez Begins rehab assignment Mon, Jun 30, 2025, 8:53 AM Hernandez (forearm) tossed a perfect inning with one strikeout in his first rehab appearance with Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday. Analysis: Hernandez has been shelved since early June with right forearm inflammation. Because his absence has been relatively brief, the reliever shouldn't require too many rehab outings before being activated from the 15-day injured list. He's likely to be back in the Atlanta bullpen later this week if all goes well.
Jurickson Profar Jurickson Profar Likely to bat in heart of order Mon, Jun 30, 2025, 8:51 AM Manager Brian Snitker said Sunday that he expects to slot Profar (suspension) in the middle of the Atlanta lineup when the 32-year-old outfielder returns from the restricted list for Wednesday's game against the Angels, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports. "I think we can move [Profar] around in kind of the middle of the order," Snitker said. "The fact he's a switch hitter and all that's gonna work out good." Analysis: Before he was handed an 80-game suspension March 31 for violating MLB's performance-enhancing drugs policy, Profar had batted leadoff in each of Atlanta's first four games. Ronald Acuna has since returned from the injured list to reclaim table-setting duties, but Snitker had previously said two weeks ago that he expects to deploy Profar as the team's everyday left fielder and No. 2 hitter upon his return. However, with Atlanta receiving good results from Matt Olson out of the two hole lately, Snitker is now more inclined to have Profar slot into the middle of the batting order against both right- and left-handed pitching, which could create more RBI opportunities for the switch hitter. Since beginning his rehab assignment at Triple-A Gwinnett on June 17, Profar has looked dialed in at the plate, slashing .326/.404/.587 with three home runs and an 8:6 BB:K.
Spencer Strider Spencer Strider Takes loss in quality start Sun, Jun 29, 2025, 8:31 PM Strider (3-6) yielded two runs on five hits and three walks over seven innings Sunday, striking out four and taking a loss against Philadelphia. Analysis: Strider worked through four shutout frames before the Phillies broke through and scored a pair in the fifth inning. He was handed the tough-luck loss after Atlanta's offense managed only one run. Strider threw 56 of 95 pitches for strikes and forced 10 whiffs, including seven with his slider. Strider had racked up 29 punchouts during a three-start winning streak before Sunday's outing. He now owns a 3.86 ERA with a 57:20 K:BB across 49 innings. Strider is in line for a home matchup against the Orioles next weekend.
Drake Baldwin Drake Baldwin Remaining on bench Sunday Sun, Jun 29, 2025, 12:08 PM Baldwin is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies. Analysis: The left-handed-hitting Baldwin has a .973 OPS with two home runs and an 8:4 BB:K across his past eight contests, but he finds himself on the bench Sunday for Atlanta's second consecutive game while the Phillies send another lefty (Ranger Suarez) to the hill. Sean Murphy will start behind the plate and bat sixth in the series finale versus Philadelphia.
Alex Verdugo Alex Verdugo Sitting against lefty again Sun, Jun 29, 2025, 12:06 PM Verdugo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies. Analysis: With Atlanta facing lefty Ranger Suarez, Verdugo will retreat to the bench for a second straight game. Stuart Fairchild will get the nod in left field.
Michael Harris II Michael Harris II Sitting again Sunday Sun, Jun 29, 2025, 11:16 AM Harris is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies. Analysis: Harris will hit the bench for a second straight day after a run of 75 consecutive starts. The consecutive days off come while Harris has struggled mightily at the plate in June with a .148/.165/.261 slash line and 27.2 percent strikeout rate in 92 plate appearances. Eli White will receive another look in center field while Stuart Fairchild starts in left for Sunday's series finale versus Philadelphia.
Sean Murphy Sean Murphy Launches grand slam Sat, Jun 28, 2025, 9:41 PM Murphy went 2-for-4 with a grand slam and a double in Saturday's 6-1 win over Philadelphia. Analysis: Murphy had gone 14 games without a homer, batting just .190 (8-for-42) in that span. His long ball in the seventh inning gave Atlanta some breathing room after Philadelphia had pulled within a run in the sixth. Murphy is up to 10 homers on the year, matching his 72-game total from last year. He's added 26 RBI, 16 runs scored, five doubles and a .225/.319/.450 slash line across 49 contests in 2025 while sharing the catching duties with Drake Baldwin.
Spencer Schwellenbach Spencer Schwellenbach Strikes out 12 in win Sat, Jun 28, 2025, 9:37 PM Schwellenbach (7-4) allowed one run on three hits and one walk while striking out 12 over seven innings to earn the win over Philadelphia on Saturday. Analysis: The 12 strikeouts were a season high for Schwellenbach, who continues to display a skill for pitching deep into games. He's covered at least seven innings in seven of his last nine starts and in nine of 17 outings overall this season. He had some bumpy spots in June but allowed a modest 13 runs (12 earned) over 36 innings while maintaining a 37:6 K:BB for the month. Overall, he's at a 3.09 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 108:18 K:BB through 110.2 innings. If Atlanta uses Monday's off day to skip the fifth spot in the rotation, Schwellenbach is tentatively lined up to make his next start at home versus the Angels on normal rest -- if that doesn't happen, he'll likely pitch during next weekend's home series against the Orioles.
Michael Harris II Michael Harris II Rare day off Sat, Jun 28, 2025, 2:12 PM Harris is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Phillies. Analysis: Harris is hitless in his last 19 at-bats and is just 2-for-39 in his last 11 outings. Amid his struggles, Atlanta will give Harris his second day off of the 2025 season, allowing for Eli White to man center field.
Drake Baldwin Drake Baldwin On bench Saturday Sat, Jun 28, 2025, 2:09 PM Baldwin is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against Philadelphia. Analysis: Baldwin will yield to Sean Murphy behind the dish for the second time in three games. Baldwin is 11-for-54 (.204) with four home runs and a 10:12 BB:K in June.
Michael Petersen Michael Petersen Sent back to Triple-A Sat, Jun 28, 2025, 9:13 AM Atlanta optioned Petersen to Triple-A Gwinnett following Friday's 13-0 loss to Philadelphia. Analysis: Atlanta will replenish its bullpen by sending Petersen back down to Triple-A while recalling Kevin Herget. Petersen was recalled by Atlanta on Thursday, and across two bullpen outings he allowed one run on four hits and two walks while striking out three in 3.2 innings.
Kevin Herget Kevin Herget Added to big-league roster Sat, Jun 28, 2025, 9:11 AM Atlanta recalled Herget from Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday. Analysis: Herget will take the spot on Atlanta's 26-man roster vacated by Michael Petersen, who was optioned to Triple-A following Friday's 13-0 loss to Philadelphia. Herget was claimed off waivers by Atlanta in mid-May after he was DFA'd by the Mets. He's spent most of the season in Triple-A and has a 3.29 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 24:8 K:BB across 27.1 innings.
Bryce Elder Bryce Elder Rain delay leads to disaster Sat, Jun 28, 2025, 8:41 AM Elder (2-5) took the loss Friday, surrendering 10 runs (nine earned) on eight hits and four walks over two-plus innings in a 13-0 loss to the Phillies. He struck out two. Analysis: The right-hander has already warmed up when the first pitch was delayed over two hours by rain, and while the Phillies elected not to send scheduled starter Mick Abel to the mound and went with a bullpen game instead, Atlanta stuck with Elder to disastrous results. While this was the worst outing of his big-league career, the 26-year-old had been struggling coming into Friday, getting tagged for nine runs in 8.2 innings over his prior two trips to the mound. The three-start collapse has sent his ERA soaring from 4.08 to 5.82, but Atlanta's lack of healthy rotation options will likely provide him with more job security than his recent performances warrant. Elder will try to get back on track in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Angels.
Jackson Stephens Jackson Stephens Could be rotation option Fri, Jun 27, 2025, 9:03 AM Stephens might be called up to replace Didier Fuentes in the big-league rotation, David O'Brien of the Athletic reports. Analysis: Fuentes has coughed up 10 runs in 8.1 inning over his first two starts for Atlanta with a 4:1 K:BB, and while the organization still believes in his future, the 20-year-old doesn't appear ready for the majors. Stephens has spent most of the year in the bullpen for Triple-A Gwinnett, but in two starts since being shifted to the rotation June 20, he's tossed nine scoreless frames with a 12:3 K:BB. The veteran righty has made appearances for Atlanta in each of the last three season, posting a 3.52 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 60:29 K:BB in 69 innings while working primarily in relief.
Grant Holmes Grant Holmes Gets no help in loss Thu, Jun 26, 2025, 9:28 PM Holmes (4-7) allowed two runs on six hits and three walks while striking out six over five innings to take the loss Thursday versus the Mets. Analysis: Holmes gave up a run in each of the fourth and fifth innings. It wasn't a bad performance from the right-hander, but Atlanta's offense mustered a pitiful three hits in the game, giving Holmes no support. He's allowed 11 runs (10 earned) across 25.2 innings in his five starts in June. Overall, he's at a 3.70 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 103:42 K:BB through 90 innings over 17 appearances (16 starts) this season. Holmes is lined up to face the Angels early next week, which could be a two-start week for him.
Drake Baldwin Drake Baldwin Getting Thursday off Thu, Jun 26, 2025, 3:18 PM Baldwin isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Mets. Analysis: Baldwin will grab a seat on the bench Thursday after belting his ninth home run of the season during Wednesday's loss. While he rests, Sean Murphy will start behind the dish and bat fifth.
Nacho Alvarez Jr. Nacho Alvarez Jr. Strains oblique at Triple-A Thu, Jun 26, 2025, 2:49 PM Alvarez departed Triple-A Gwinnett's game on Thursday due to an oblique strain, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. Analysis: The severity of the strain has not been revealed, but he is surely headed to the 7-day injured list. Alvarez began this season on the major-league IL with a wrist injury before being activated and optioned earlier this month. Heading into action Thursday, Alvarez has slashed .379/.561/.552 with one homer and a 4:9 K:BB in nine games with Gwinnett.
Drake Baldwin Drake Baldwin Socks ninth homer Thu, Jun 26, 2025, 11:04 AM Baldwin went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Wednesday's loss to the Mets. Analysis: The rookie backstop took Clay Holmes deep in the fourth inning to briefly tie the game at 1-1, before the floodgates opened for the Mets in the bottom of the frame. Baldwin has started two of every three games lately as he takes a firmer hold of the top job over Sean Murphy, and over his last six games he's batting .316 (6-for-19) with two of his nine homers on the season, plus five runs and seven RBI.
Austin Cox Austin Cox Sent to Gwinnett Thu, Jun 26, 2025, 9:08 AM Atlanta optioned Cox to Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday. Analysis: Right-hander Michael Petersen was recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move and will provide Atlanta with a fresh arm in the bullpen for Thursday's series finale versus the Mets. After being called up from Gwinnett over the weekend, Cox made two appearances for Atlanta, covering three innings and allowing one earned run on three hits while striking out five.