Atlanta’s Offense Has to Get in Gear — and Fast

Apr 11, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Atlanta Braves third base Austin Riley (27) is congratulated by coaching staff after scoring against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dave Nelson-Imagn Images

The Atlanta Braves have the talent, but right now, they aren’t putting it all together at the plate. Through the first few weeks of the 2025 season, the biggest storyline for the Braves isn’t about who’s hitting bombs or racking up runs. It’s about the opportunities they’re leaving behind.

Atlanta's currently ranks 22nd in Major League Baseball with a .219 team batting average. That alone tells part of the story, but the more alarming stat is that they’re leaving an average of 7.45 runners on base per game. That’s not just a minor issue, it’s the root of their early-season struggles. Too many scoring chances are going to waste.

We’ve already seen it happen multiple times this year, including just last night against Tampa Bay. The Braves loaded the bases in the first inning and came away with nothing. In total, they went just 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left seven men stranded in the 6–3 loss. It’s becoming a theme that needs to end soon.

Another frustrating example came in their April 9th loss to the Phillies. Atlanta left 12 runners on base and only went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position. They had bases loaded more than once and couldn’t bring a single run across when it mattered. You can’t win consistently playing that kind of baseball.

So what’s going right?

Austin Riley seems to be heating up, and he’s quietly been one of the more consistent bats in the lineup lately. Over his last 10 games, Riley is hitting .262 with a home run and five RBIs, and he’s batting .461 in the last three games alone, with four runs scored and two knocked in. While his season average sits at .245, the upward trend is encouraging.

Then there’s Marcell Ozuna, arguably Atlanta’s most reliable bat so far. Ozuna is hitting .317 on the season, with three home runs and eight RBIs. He’s been scorching lately, batting .500 in the last three games and logging three homers in his last six. In that stretch, he’s 10-for-25 with seven runs scored. His bat has kept the Braves from sinking further.

The potential is there. But one or two hot bats can’t carry an entire offense. The Braves are batting under .200 with runners in scoring position, and that stat says it all. It’s not just about getting hits, it’s about getting them when it counts.

And here’s the thing, getting those runs across would do more than just boost the box score. It would give the pitching staff some breathing room. While a few pitchers haven’t quite been at their best, they aren’t the primary reason for Atlanta’s early struggles. More often than not, the Braves' arms have done an ok job to keep the team in games. Whether it’s a reliever stepping up in a tight spot or a starter battling through five or six solid innings, but they can’t carry the load alone. A little more help from the offense could quickly shift the momentum and change the entire outlook of this team. With Spencer Strider due back in the coming days, hopefully the rotation will be what it needs to be, for a solid rotation.

If Atlanta wants to climb back up the standings and compete the way everyone expects, they have to start converting traffic on the basepaths into runs. They’ve been getting chances. Now it’s time to do something with them.