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.
