<img alt="MLB: Game One-St. Louis Cardinals at Atlanta Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tw3kkMle1r22tj2ijvm35EBhr_4=/0x0:4254x2836/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73599533/usa_today_23798721.0.jpg">
Ozzie is back! | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Ozzie Albies has made his long anticipated return. How does the new lineup shift around? The Atlanta Braves are traveling to Miami in a series that could ultimately play a huge role in if they have a chance to overtake the Mets when they face them next week.
Most fans to this point know that the pitching has been the strength of this team. Even after the offensive onslaught yesterday, some fans still seem to believe the offense has been bad. Contrary to popular believe, the Braves’ offense has been above average since the start of September. In fact, they have been a top eight offense in MLB. They are eighth in MLB in wRC+ in that span, and sixth in runs scored (tied with Seattle, of all teams).
Part of this can be attributed to weeding out the weak links. Laureano has rightfully been added as a mainstay in the offense which has effectively boosted one of the weaker links in the lineup (outfield). Soler seems to be coming around, and Michael Harris is finding his groove. Matt Olson, when he hit his last HR, had hit seven HRs in his last twenty-two at-bats. This has clearly shown that he has found his rhythm.
The offense has appeared to turn a corner and has turned from a weakness to a strength. The question now is if it is too little too late.
The Braves did face the Marlins’ rookie starter Valente Bellozo back on August second, and struggled to only muster two hits. However, they did tag him for two runs with Arcia coming through with a HR, and Merrifield with a triple.
The real question mark for the lineup before it dropped was how it was going t shift with Ozzie Albies making his long awaited return. With Whit Merrifield hitting the way he has, it makes sense to keep him in the lineup, but playing the outfield does not make much sense with him playing on a broken foot, and Laureano playing like he has. So, does that mean he would shift to third and that would push Urshela to the bench? Arcia has been struggling. Does that mean it was worth the drop-off in defense to put Urshela at SS?
These questions have been answered.
First of 3 in Miami!#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/5zx0tHOYdN— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 20, 2024
Albies will be batting second, and Urshela will be getting the start at third. It is a little surprising to not see Merrifield in the lineup, especially with him getting one of the two hits off of Bellozo last time the Braves faced him.
For the Marlins, they are a young team so most of them do not have many at-bats versus Morton. Jesús Sánchez leads the team with twenty at-bats in which he has struggled to a .461 OPS. Other than him, no one has seen Morton more than nine times with only one player above a .666 OPS. Vidal Bruján is the only player you could argue has had success against Morton with a 1.000 OPS, but that was in only three at-bats.
New day, new series : @PNCBank : @BallySportsFL, @BallyMarlins : @MarlinsRadio, @FoxSports940 ⏰: 7:10 PM ET #HomeOfBeisbol // https://t.co/5rOTQv6xUC pic.twitter.com/kdayhQ5VRB— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) September 20, 2024
Bruján, who is the one player on the roster who has had limited success against Morton will not get the start tonight. Bride, Edwards, and Lopez all get the start tonight and have all gone one for three with a single against Morton.
First pitch is at 7:10 ET
<img alt="MLB: Game One-St. Louis Cardinals at Atlanta Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tw3kkMle1r22tj2ijvm35EBhr_4=/0x0:4254x2836/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73599533/usa_today_23798721.0.jpg">
Ozzie is back! | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Ozzie Albies has made his long anticipated return. How does the new lineup shift around? The Atlanta Braves are traveling to Miami in a series that could ultimately play a huge role in if they have a chance to overtake the Mets when they face them next week.
Most fans to this point know that the pitching has been the strength of this team. Even after the offensive onslaught yesterday, some fans still seem to believe the offense has been bad. Contrary to popular believe, the Braves’ offense has been above average since the start of September. In fact, they have been a top eight offense in MLB. They are eighth in MLB in wRC+ in that span, and sixth in runs scored (tied with Seattle, of all teams).
Part of this can be attributed to weeding out the weak links. Laureano has rightfully been added as a mainstay in the offense which has effectively boosted one of the weaker links in the lineup (outfield). Soler seems to be coming around, and Michael Harris is finding his groove. Matt Olson, when he hit his last HR, had hit seven HRs in his last twenty-two at-bats. This has clearly shown that he has found his rhythm.
The offense has appeared to turn a corner and has turned from a weakness to a strength. The question now is if it is too little too late.
The Braves did face the Marlins’ rookie starter Valente Bellozo back on August second, and struggled to only muster two hits. However, they did tag him for two runs with Arcia coming through with a HR, and Merrifield with a triple.
The real question mark for the lineup before it dropped was how it was going t shift with Ozzie Albies making his long awaited return. With Whit Merrifield hitting the way he has, it makes sense to keep him in the lineup, but playing the outfield does not make much sense with him playing on a broken foot, and Laureano playing like he has. So, does that mean he would shift to third and that would push Urshela to the bench? Arcia has been struggling. Does that mean it was worth the drop-off in defense to put Urshela at SS?
These questions have been answered.
First of 3 in Miami!#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/5zx0tHOYdN— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 20, 2024
Albies will be batting second, and Urshela will be getting the start at third. It is a little surprising to not see Merrifield in the lineup, especially with him getting one of the two hits off of Bellozo last time the Braves faced him.
For the Marlins, they are a young team so most of them do not have many at-bats versus Morton. Jesús Sánchez leads the team with twenty at-bats in which he has struggled to a .461 OPS. Other than him, no one has seen Morton more than nine times with only one player above a .666 OPS. Vidal Bruján is the only player you could argue has had success against Morton with a 1.000 OPS, but that was in only three at-bats.
New day, new series : @PNCBank : @BallySportsFL, @BallyMarlins : @MarlinsRadio, @FoxSports940 ⏰: 7:10 PM ET #HomeOfBeisbol // https://t.co/5rOTQv6xUC pic.twitter.com/kdayhQ5VRB— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) September 20, 2024
Bruján, who is the one player on the roster who has had limited success against Morton will not get the start tonight. Bride, Edwards, and Lopez all get the start tonight and have all gone one for three with a single against Morton.
First pitch is at 7:10 ET
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