Braves record on Home stand: 5-1 (Three game sweep of Minnesota, won two of three against St. Louis.)

In what has become a reoccurring theme to open the 2025 season, the Atlanta Braves came into this home stand looking to bounce back from a losing roadtrip. The Braves dropped two out of three to Tampa Bay, then crossed the border to do the same thing against the Toronto Blue Jays.

But as tradition has told us, there is really no place like home. Over the past four seasons Atlanta has averaged 48 victories at Truist Park, and this year is shaping up no different. With their struggled on the road, Atlanta has to remain dominant at home as they await the return of Ronald Acuna Jr from the injured list.

Speaking of the Braves injured superstar, its amazing how one deleted tweet can overshadow a series that saw the Braves offense finally break out. We’ll dive into the tweet in a second, but first lets recap Atlanta’s first sweep of the season.

The Braves poured in 28 hits over the three game set with the Twins, including four homers. Matt Olson showed more signs of life, coming through with four hits, including two XBHs (2B,HR) and four RBI. Olson collected is 1,000th career hit when he doubled home newest Atlanta Brave Verdugo in the first inning of Game Two. 

Twins centerfielder Byron Buxton showed flashes of why he’s an All-Star when healthy, but that wasn’t enough to slow down the Braves. After running through the Twins, Atlanta welcomed the St. Louis Cardinals to town. The Cardinals are a team that has struggled so far this season, a perfect way for Atlanta to end the home stand.

Atlanta needed a little luck to win Game One 7-6, and a bullpen game in Game Two felt more like a reset opportunity for the rotation (aka a punt). Atlanta won the getaway game this series 4-1 to win consecutive series for the first time this season. 

What did manage to slow the Braves, if albeit briefly, was something that we see constantly in todays game. Atlanta right fielder Jarred Kelenic thought he hit a home run, admired it for a minute then quickly realized it was not a homer. After trying to go for two, Kelenic was thrown out as second base.

Manager Brian Snitker didn’t really pay any attention to the mishap, and that caught the attention of the Braves superstar right fielder. Ronald tweeted (and then deleted) “If it were me, they would have taken me out the game,” referencing his 2019 benching that clearly still irks him. 

Now, you won’t find too many places more pro-player than The BarbersChair, but I think there comes a point where we have to draw a line. When you are crowned the next face of a franchise, the expectation are different than those of a player like Kelenic who’s trying to finally live up to the potential he came into baseball with.

Has the energy toward Ronnie been ridiculous at times, absolutely. Have some of baseballs “unwritten rules” been used to criticize a man who has done nothing but perform for his franchise, yes. But in this situation, this seems like a petty move by the former NL MVP.

All of this while rehabbing in Los Angeles as your team struggles to find their footing. As the season progresses and Acuna returns, I think this is certainly something to monitor. His teammates love him, but if there is a disconnect between the teams best player and its Manager, you have to wonder which will give first. 

Braves record on Homestand : 3-2 (Split 1-1 with Miami Marlins, won two of three against Philadelphia Phillies.)

The 2025 season has not gotten off to the start that Atlanta Braves fans anticipated, but the first homestand of the season gave Braves faithful a glimpse into what this team is capable of accomplishing as the season progresses.

After starting 0-7 on the road, Atlanta broke through in emphatic fashion against the Miami Marlins. The Braves offense erupted for 10 runs on 16 hits, their largest output of the season so far. Centerfielder Michael Harris and designated hitter Marcell Ozuna had three hits apiece, while Ozuna and first basemen Matt Olson both knocked in three RBI. Starting pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach aka “the OTHER Spencer” was dominant in his home debut, throwing eight innings of two hit baseball while striking out 10 Marlins.

Unfortunately, Atlanta was unable to ride the momentum from their opening victory to secure their first series win of the season, as a 4-0 loss on Saturday combined with a rainout of the series finale meant that a series split would be the best outcome (for now). The third and final game of this series will be made up later. Rainout aside, Atlanta still had something to be happy about after the weekend, as the return of their All-Star catcher Sean Murphy was officially scheduled for their clash with division rival Philadelphia.

 The return of their All-Star backstop helped spark their struggling offense, as Sean would homer and drive in four runs in his return and the Braves went on to defeat Cy Young contender Zach Wheeler 7-5, a game that saw them score 4 runs after the 6th inning . After three home games, the Braves offense finally began to resemble the offense they had grown accustomed to putting on the field every game the past two seasons.

Reigning National League Cy Young winner Chris Sale pulled no punches when asked about the impact of Murphy’s return. “Unbelievable,”  said Sale “Big three-run homerun, another big hit later in the game. It just sort of seemed like the game gravitated toward him today, so having a guy like that come back around is key for us. He was a big part of our success last year, specifically my success. A Gold Glove, All Star caliber catcher? I mean anyone would gladly take that back on their team for sure.”

Manager Brian Snitker echoed Sale’s sentiment when asked about his catcher. “Some really good at-bats, he fouled some balls off, just the whole at bats, his posture.. it’s good to get a veteran guy back.”

As for Sale, he hasn’t looked like himself yet over his first few starts, and the 14-year veteran is aware of it. “I just have to find the groove; it has not clicked yet. It’s not all put together, which is frustrating because I felt like I was there in spring training. I felt like I had a really good spring training other than one wonky start but everything else kind of felt in sync and then once the season started things got off the rails.  

Game two of their three game set with the Phillies once again knocked the wind out of Atlanta’s sails, as late inning homers by Bryce Harper and Trae Turner lead to a 4-3 victory for Philadelphia.  After yet again splitting the first two games of the series, Atlanta went into the rubber match looking to capture a series win before the weather made that impossible. Fortunately for the Braves, league officials had a long leash with the rain delay this time.

With the final game of the series tied 1-1, the teams sat through a 2-hour and 45-minute rain delay that forced the game into the midnight hour. Philadelphia would eventually take a 2-1 lead in the 11th inning, but the Braves weren’t done fighting. A double by Austin Riley scored Ozzie Albies to tie the game and Marcell Ozuna did the rest of the heavy lifting, sending a two-run homer into the left field bleachers to end the game at 12:53am.

It wasn’t pretty, but the win gave Atlanta a winning record on the homestand and their first series victory of the season. The Braves kick off their next homestand (six games) at Truist Park this Friday when the Minnesota Twins come to town.