The 2025 Major League Baseball season underway and one of the most surprising starts is that of the Atlanta Braves as they head into their home opener tonight against the Florida Marlins with an 0-7 record. However, while many conversations in the baseball world revolve around whether or not there should be any concern with the Braves, on Friday, The Steakhouse co-host, Rusty Mansell explained why he believes there may be some overreaction about Atlanta’s start.
“You give the Braves the benefit of the doubt way ahead of anybody else,” Steak Shapiro told Mansell as they previewed Atlanta’s weekend series with Florida, inquiring as to why Mansell, who is a Georgia native and has cheered for his home team since his childhood, is not worried by what he has seen from the club through their first seven games.
“They’re 15-0,” Mansell said in regards to the Braves facing the Padres, who are currently 7-0, and the Dodgers, who sit at 8-0, to begin their season, making a case for the two clubs to currently be considered the best in MLB. “They came out the gate swinging. Mike Tyson would knock you out in the first round,” Mansell said, comparing both teams to the power of the former heavy weight boxing champion.
Noting the absence of Ronald Acuna Jr. and Spencer Strider, Mansell shared he is simply “not worried” as he believes the Braves’ “two best players” absence may be significant to their rough start, however acknowledged he would consider the team to be in trouble “if you give me 23 more games and we’re lackluster,” the Braves would have “problems”. Yet, Mansell would not waiver from his stance, noting the Braves return home as a factor.
“We’re coming home. This is different energy and fresh start,” Mansell added.