Arguably the highest point of the Braves 2024 campaign came last Friday night. They had just capped off a late-inning comeback at home over the Marlins for their fourth straight win and sixth in seven days. It cut the Phillies lead in the NL East to just five games, the closest the race had been since late May.
Unfortunately, the Braves have followed it up with perhaps their worst stretch of baseball. Last night’s 10-0 loss to the Brewers at Truist Park was a game that didn’t need to be watched past the second inning. Bryce Elder was dreadful, but that shouldn’t come as all that shocking after what we’ve seen from him over the last 12 months.
What has been one of the most puzzling storylines in all of baseball is how a historic offense from a year ago turned into an anemic bunch in the blink of an eye, which Brian Snitker discussed after last night’s game.
Brian Snitker after tonight’s loss to Milwaukee: “We have been so accustom to being such an offensive force here. Now all of the sudden, we’re not for whatever reason.” pic.twitter.com/vtivGJwe3F
— Bally Sports South (@BallySportsSO) August 7, 2024
Following a stretch of 24 straight scoreless innings, the Braves now rank 25th in runs scored. Teams like the Pirates, Nationals, Tigers, and Athletics have been more efficient at producing runs through the first four-plus months of the season, and things actually look a lot worse for Atlanta if you take out the first month.
Since May, the Braves have been in the conversation for the worst offense in all of baseball. Injuries have certainly played a significant role in the team’s struggles, but they alone aren’t solely responsible for just how pitiful this group has been.
Baseball is a funny game full of peaks and valleys. Every club goes through them each season, which is why they play 162 games. Over 162 games, the cream rises to the top. The randomness is removed, and trends become facts. The Braves are now 112 games into the 2024 campaign. Perhaps it’s time to accept this offense isn’t just bad, it’s abysmal, and Michael Harris alone isn’t going to fix that.
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Photographer: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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