Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images)
The Atlanta Braves have followed up their 14-4 start to the 2023 season with a four-game losing stream. Some players deserve more blame than others.
Outside of the otherworldly start down in St. Pete, there wasn’t a hotter team in baseball to begin the 2023 MLB season than the Atlanta Braves. The 2021 World Series champs and 2022 NL East winners looked primed to repeat at least one of those feats after a 14-4 start.
Then came the end of last week.
A 1-0 loss to the Padres in the series finale in San Diego led to being on the wrong end of a three-game sweep at Truist Park against the Houston Astros. That puts the Braves on a four-game losing streak with their division lead over the Mets having dwindled to just 0.5 games as they come into an NL East clash with the Marlins.
Obviously, in a 162-game season, a four-game skid is nothing to worry about. However, for a team that was firing on all cylinders to fall off so suddenly and hit this untimely streak, it’s worth diving into. And if we’re pointing fingers, three Braves players, in particular, deserve a great deal of blame for this late-April slide — and no, we’re not even counting Marcell Ozuna.
Atlanta Braves: 3 players most to blame for 4-game losing streak, Astros sweep
3. Austin Riley hasn’t been the run producer the Braves have needed
In the 2-0 win over the Padres to open that series in San Diego, Austin Riley extended his hitting streak to eight games and was slashing .317/.408/.540 with four home runs, two doubles and 11 RBI. Suffice it to say, the Braves third baseman looked well on his way to inserting himself into the NL MVP discussion once again.
There have been five games since, including the Braves’ current losing streak, Riley is a meager 2-for-19 at the plate with only one double, no home runs, two walks and one RBI. He’s also struck out six times over the 21 plate appearances as well, clearly not seeing the ball as well as he was right now to start the year.
Those struggles in themselves are problematic for one of the best bats in the heart of Atlanta’s order not producing, but it’s even more frustrating when you consider that Ronald Acuña Jr. in the leadoff spot has been doing his part to get into position to score. Acuña is hitting .400 with an OPS of 1.071 over the four-game losing streak, but has scored just two runs over that span.
This Braves lineup is loaded with talent but, against high-end contenders like the Padres and Astros, they have to take advantage of opportunities. Acuña has been providing those chances and Riley, frankly, hasn’t been able to capitalize. With his average now down to .268 on the early season, the MVP candidate needs to regroup and get back to that form.