Braves Begin Crucial Toronto Series Hoping to Spark Offense

TAMPA, FL - APRIL 13: Atlanta Braves Manager Brian Snitker watches the action on the field during the regular season game between the Atlanta Braves and the Tampa Bay Rays on April 13, 2025 at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire)

The Atlanta Braves (4–11) arrive in Toronto hoping to shake off a sluggish start to their 2025 campaign. Set to begin a three-game series against the Blue Jays (9–7) tonight at Rogers Centre, Atlanta turns to right-hander Grant Holmes (0–1, 4.00 ERA) to set the tone in the opener. He’ll be opposed by Toronto southpaw Easton Lucas (2–0, 0.00 ERA), who has yet to allow an earned run in his first two appearances.

For the Braves, pitching hasn’t been the only issue. Holmes delivered a promising outing in his last start on April 9 against the Phillies, going four scoreless innings with six strikeouts and just three hits allowed. But the real question entering this series is whether the Braves’ bats will show up and offer Holmes some much-needed support.

Offensive Production a Major Concern

Through 15 games, Atlanta’s offense ranks 17th in Major League Baseball with a .227 team batting average. They’ve scored just 49 runs, placing them near the bottom third of the league in run production. Perhaps more concerning, the team is averaging only 3.27 runs per game, which ranks 26th overall. That’s well below expectations for a club loaded with big names and postseason aspirations.

Digging deeper reveals the Braves’ biggest problem: situational hitting. Atlanta has left an average of 4.27 runners in scoring position per game. Not only has that been an issue, but the team has also struggled to score early. Sluggish starts make it tough on pitchers to keep games close, forcing them to labor harder with little margin for error.

Big Bats, Quiet Results

There are a few bright spots in an otherwise cold lineup. Marcell Ozuna has been the most consistent hitter in the Braves’ order, slashing .306 with three home runs and eight RBIs. He’s drawn 16 walks and owns a .477 on-base percentage, often setting the table even when the bats behind him fail to cash in.

Austin Riley appears to be heating up as well. He’s now batting .274 with two home runs and six RBIs over the past week, including multiple multi-hit games. Riley recently said,

“There’s some positive there right now, but the negatives definitely outweigh it. We’ve just got to continue to fight it.”

Ozzie Albies, though streaky, has chipped in with three home runs and eight RBIs. Sean Murphy, who recently returned from injury, has wasted no time making an impact. He’s batting .263 with three homers and six RBIs in just five games. His presence behind the plate and timely swings have added a spark.

I personally want to see Nick Allen continue to gain some consistency. I know consistency doesn’t seem to be in the Braves' vocabulary right now, but in 28 at-bats, Allen is batting .321 with an OPS of .760. Saturday in the Braves’ win over the Rays, Allen went 3-for-4 and provided a much-needed bat.

But outside of those contributors, things have been inconsistent. Matt Olson is batting just .200 with one home run, a far cry from the 54 he hit last season. Jarred Kelenic is hitting .162 with only one RBI, and the bottom of the order has largely failed to flip the lineup effectively.

Strangely, the Braves rank in the top ten in barrel rate and hard-hit percentage, and their average exit velocity is among the best in the league. So the quality of contact is there, it’s the situational results that are missing.

Toronto Enters with Momentum

The Blue Jays come into the series on the heels of a dramatic 7–6 win over Baltimore in extra innings. However, they may be without George Springer, who exited Sunday’s game with wrist discomfort. Springer is day-to-day, and his absence could be a key break for the Braves.

Easton Lucas will take the mound in the opener for Toronto. Lucas has been sensational to begin the year, tossing 10.1 scoreless innings across two starts. He’ll be a challenge for an Atlanta lineup that has struggled against left-handed pitching.

Toronto’s pitching staff as a whole has performed well, boasting a team ERA of 3.37, which ranks in the top 10 in the league. Their offense, led by Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., is hitting .267 and averaging just over four runs per game.

What Needs to Change for Atlanta

Manager Brian Snitker and hitting coach Tim Hyers have said the offense needs to simplify things and just focus on getting good swings with runners on base. The Braves have already stranded the bases loaded multiple times this season, a trend that cannot continue if they want to climb out of their early hole.

“We’ve pitched and played defense well enough to win… now it’s on the offense,” Snitker said ahead of the series opener. Riley echoed that message, saying, “Being able to pull one out is a characteristic of a good team, but that can’t be the only way we win.”

Chris Sale has not been the Sale of last year so far. His frustration boiled over yesterday, both during and after the game.

“I don't know if I've ever been this frustrated. Honestly. I mean, it's just... I feel like I'm just banging my (bleeping) head against the wall right now, and I'm getting nothing out of it.”

Safe to say, Sale might need a day or two to settle down and reset. The season is still young, even though these 15 games have felt like an eternity.

Spencer Strider is expected to return on Wednesday, barring any unexpected developments, but the Braves’ path forward should mostly be about generating run support. If the bats finally come alive in Toronto, it could mark the beginning of a much-needed turnaround.

We can only hope.