The 2023 Major League Baseball season is here and the Atlanta Braves are off in the right direction as they picked up 7-2 win over the Washington Nationals.
And while the win was soured a bit by an early exit for Max Fried due to a hamstring injury, Braves fans got an opportunity to see the initial lineup go to work with catcher, Travis d’Arnaud having the biggest day at the plate with four hits on five plate appearances as well as two RBI.
Overall, the Braves lineup, which saw Ronald Acuña Jr. in his usual leadoff spot, with Matt Olson in the two hole and Ozie Albies batting cleanup, was productive all around as only four batters went hitless. However, despite Atlanta’s day at the plate, when the lineup was initially released, it was noticed immediately that Michael Harris II was slotted in the eighth spot. Many predicted that he would be behind Acuña Jr. at the top of the order.
“I know Snitker hit Olson early in the year in that second spot and while he had some good on-base, he just could not get on track in that spot,” 92-9 The Game’s Jon Chuckery mentioned in his conversation with Kris Willis, managing editor and producer for Battery Power, as the two discussed Day 1 for the Braves.
Chuckery pointed to the fact that Harris has been successful against right-handed pitchers thus far in his career and sought Willis’ thoughts on whether there should be a change that calls for Harris to be moved up when the Braves face right-handed pitchers.
“If you had Ronnie and Harris at the top of that order, and Harris hitting right-handers so well that you would take advantage of that speed,” Chuckery said. Willis agreed with Chuckery that how Braves manager, Brian Snitker addresses the lineup when facing various opposing pitchers “will be something to watch.”
While reminding Chuckery that Snitker has been known for “tinkering” with his lineup on a nightly basis early in the season before coming up with one that he prefers to stick with, ultimately Willis agreed with Chuckery that “Acuña and Harris at the top of the order is really dangerous”.
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