After another gritty win for the Braves last night, Atlanta has now won eight of their last ten games and appears to be finally building some positive momentum. Most of that can be attributed to a starting rotation that has been impenetrable over the last several weeks, but Alex Anthopoulos’ recent additions have also played a critical role in keeping the offense afloat.
Yesterday, our own Alex Lord discussed Whit Merrifield’s success, along with Jorge Soler, who the Braves acquired at the trade deadline. Additionally, Ramon Laureano deserves some love as well.
When the Guardians decided to designate Laureano for assignment, he was hitting just .143 with a .494 OPS over 31 games. Keep in mind, despite the Guardians leading the NL Central, they are also a club that struggles to put up runs. If they had thought Laureano had anything left in the tank, he’d still be in Cleveland.
But one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. With all of their injuries, the Braves were desperate enough to bring a veteran like Laureano on board, and he very well might help save their season. In 42 games with Atlanta, he’s hitting over .300 with seven homers and an .862 OPS, which includes a critical double in the 10th inning off a 102 MPH fastball from one of the scariest pitchers to ever toe the rubber, Jhoan Duran.
Laureano adds on!#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/6cioM6bNsa
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 28, 2024
Over his last 14 games, Ramon Laureano is hitting .352 with four home runs and a 1.018 OPS, and the everyday opportunities are clearly having a positive impact. However, with Jorge Soler and Michael Harris II back in the lineup, the Braves have a bit of a logjam in the outfield, with three guys vying for just one spot.
Adam Duvall has been the club’s primary left fielder against left-handed pitching, with Jarred Kelenic playing against right-handers. But with the way Laureano is playing right now, I’m not sure there is a case for either of them seeing much of the field. Duvall and his .185 batting average certainly shouldn’t be in the conversation, and Kelenic may not be far behind. In his last 48 games, Kelenic is hitting just .167 with four homers, good for a .524 OPS.
The best option for the Braves right now is Ramon Laureano. This is a team that’s been searching for offense all season. They’ve finally found some semblance of a spark with Laureano in the outfield. It may not be the case a few weeks from now, but he needs to be in the lineup every day until he cools off.
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Photo: Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire
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