We’ve reached the 2025 All-Star break and if, on March 14, you predicted that the Atlanta Braves would be 11 games under .500 with a 3.2-percent chance of making the postseason on July 14, then no you didn’t.
The last week before the break saw Atlanta take a road trip to West Sacramento and then St. Louis. In very this year fashion, the Cardinals series ended with a rain delayed Sunday game that took no less that 17 hours to complete after reliever Jesse Chavez seemingly game up 85 hits that wouldn’t
have cleared the fence in t-ball.
Fun.
In six games during this past week, the Braves won three and lost three and with it brought to a close a forgettable 95 games. Or better put, 95 games we wish we could forget.
The week-that-was didn’t have a player whose case for Battery Power Player of the Week jumped off the page with such explosive force that all others collapsed in its wake. No, this week was just sort of an even Jackson Stephens.
(Speaking of, what are the chances we see Stephens back with Atlanta by this time in August? 50/50?)
The team’s starting pitching has been decimated by injuries, with Atlanta opting to use multiple bullpen games this week. That did mean that just-claimed Joey Wentz made his much-delayed Braves debut with three sterling innings of work in relief. Likewise, Wander Suero made his Braves debut with a couple of nice innings after being called-up from Triple-A yesterday.
Davis Daniel was also elevated from Gwinnett and had a nice rain-shortened start. Bryce Elder, now one of the team’s top three starting pitchers, rebounded with a 6.2-inning, seven strikeout effort against the Athletics.
Raisel Iglesias had maybe the best week of any of the pitchers – not only for his three innings of scoreless relief across three outings that included two saves – but because he hasn’t allowed a run since June 5 and with the trade deadline only two-and-a-half weeks away, he is adding back the value he’d lost with is early-season struggles.
At the plate, Marcell Ozuna seems to be turning the corner but has also lost playing time as the team had finally started both of its catchers in the same line-us – with one at designated hitter. Jurickson Profar hasn’t walked since his return from suspension but hadsotherwise looked solid in the box including some fantastic at bats this weekend.
Ultimately though, this week’s Player of the Week comes down to a battle between Sean Murphy and Ronald Acuña, Jr.
Battery Power Braves Player of the Week: Sean Murphy
Catcher/designated hitter Sean Murphy and outfielder Ronald Acuña, Jr. had quite similar weeks with both blasting three home runs while appearing in five of the team’s six games this week. Acuña, Jr. has a slightly better offensive week with one more hit and a couple of walks, but both fanned seven times while Murphy knocked in three more runs.
The slight edge here goes to Murphy for both his work behind the plate and that his power-stroke finally forced the Braves to put him and fellow catcher Drake Baldwin in the line-up, with one-of-the-two seeing time at designated hitter this week.
In 60 games with Atlanta this season, Murphy has 16 home runs with a 126 wRC+ with a career-best .281 ISO.
Murphy’s power surge has given Atlanta more lineup “optionality” and has probably added a little smoke to the rumor mill heading to the end of July. While Murphy is unlikely to be moved during this regular season, his production gives Atlanta more leverage to do whatever they do between now and July 31.
More from batterypower.com:
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- Atlanta Braves Minor League Recap: Acuna Homers, Wentz Dominates
- Atlanta Braves super early 2018 MLB Draft Preview
- Remember Andrelton Simmons? He’s an MVP candidate in Los Angeles
- Atlanta Braves Minor League Recap: Ronald Acuna homers again because of course he did
