PITTSBURGH — The Atlanta Braves are showcasing some of their best infield defense in years—an essential strength for a team struggling with inconsistency at the plate. With their offense failing to deliver regularly, the Braves simply can’t afford defensive lapses if they want to stay in the playoff conversation.
Shortstop Nick Allen, the infield’s only new face, has quickly made his presence felt with sharp defensive play. “We don’t want to give anything away,” Allen said. “If we can limit baserunners, it helps in the long run. Once the offense clicks, everything takes off.”
But Atlanta is still waiting for that offensive spark. After climbing back from a rough 5-13 start to win 13 of 19 games, the Braves missed another chance to reach .500 with a 3-2 loss to the Pirates on Friday. They managed just two hits in six innings against Pittsburgh’s Brady Falter, whose ERA dropped nearly a full point after the outing.
It’s the fourth time this season the Braves have lost when one win away from a .500 record, with previous stumbles against teams like the Rockies and now the struggling Pirates.
“We need to get over that .500 hump,” said Matt Olson. “Bryce (Elder) threw well, the bullpen was great, but we didn’t give them any support.”
The offense remains unpredictable—explosive one night, quiet the next. Manager Brian Snitker admitted the inconsistency is frustrating. “We’ve got some guys scuffling. I just keep waiting for it all to click.”
Still, the defense remains a constant. The Braves hadn’t made an infield error since April 21 and rank among MLB’s best in key defensive metrics like Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and Outs Above Average (OAA). Olson leads all first basemen in DRS, Riley ranks high at third, and Allen leads all shortstops in OAA. Even Ozzie Albies, despite a weak arm, contributes solidly at second.
Allen, who replaced Orlando Arcia early in the season, has quickly become a standout. His glove work and range have elevated the infield unit, and his smooth integration with the rest of the group hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Snitker praised the group’s chemistry and credited Braves president Alex Anthopoulos for prioritizing defense in roster decisions. “It starts with how Alex builds the team,” said Riley. “You know what you’re getting from this group every night on defense.”
With Ronald Acuña Jr. nearing a return, there could be future lineup shuffles, but for now, the Braves are banking on elite defense to carry them until the offense wakes up.
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