The Atlanta Braves’ offense has been underwhelming this season—there’s no way to sugarcoat it. However, there’s a glimmer of hope as the team has ranked 16th in runs scored over the past week, showing signs of improvement compared to their earlier struggles.
This lack of consistent run production has put immense pressure on the bullpen, forcing them into frequent high-leverage situations. The hope today is that the lineup steps up and gives starter AJ Smith-Shawver and the relievers some breathing room.
The Braves are set to face Trevor Williams, who enters the game with a 5.88 ERA. However, his underlying Statcast metrics suggest better performance, with a 3.89 expected ERA (xERA). Historically, Marcell Ozuna has seen Williams the most, posting a .333 average and .735 OPS in 33 at-bats. Ozzie Albies (.313 AVG, .791 OPS in 16 ABs) and Matt Olson (1.080 OPS in 8 ABs) have also had success. Eli White is the only regular starter with no prior matchups against Williams.
Meanwhile, Austin Riley’s struggles against Williams continue, managing just a .111 average and .333 OPS in 18 at-bats. In response, the Braves are shaking up the batting order, moving Drake Baldwin into the No. 2 spot—a rare place for a catcher. Baldwin has been swinging a hot bat, and with both he and Sean Murphy performing well, the Braves are riding the hot hand.
Riley slides down to the fifth spot, a logical shift given his past performance against Williams. On the Nationals’ side, the big lineup change is Jacob Young replacing Dylan Crews in center field, while Keibert Ruiz returns behind the plate and will hit cleanup. Only CJ Abrams, Alex Call, and Ruiz have faced Smith-Shawver before, and none of them have managed a hit yet.
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