The Braves have spent the last couple of weeks getting a real feel for what October is going to look like, and the results have been hard to ignore.
They went toe-to-toe with the Dodgers for three games at Truist Park, with seeding in the National League hanging in the balance, and came away with a sweep. Every game was decided by one run.
Then Atlanta headed to Philadelphia for a four-game series with the NL East crown in play. The Phillies entered the weekend four games back and badly needed a series win to start clawing back ground with less than a month left in the regular season.
Instead, they had to settle for a split on Monday after a Jesus Luzardo gem on the mound.
For Jeff Francoeur, the takeaway is clear: Atlanta should not be looking at anybody and backing down in October, especially if Ronald Acuña Jr. and Austin Riley keep rolling.
On The Locker Room, Francoeur said if Austin Riley and Ronald Acuña Jr. heat up heading into October, the Braves could be in a very good spot. pic.twitter.com/hJkCiAkLQg
- 680 The Fan (@680TheFan) September 8, 2026
Acuña was the headline act over the weekend. He collected seven hits against the Phillies and launched two home runs, and the way he took his time admiring those drives became part of the conversation.
Right now, he’s the hottest bat in the Braves’ lineup, and that changes everything about Atlanta’s offensive ceiling. When he’s swinging with that kind of confidence, the whole team carries itself differently.
Riley did his part, too. He finished the series with three hits and a homer, but his biggest swing came Sunday night when he ripped a ninth-inning triple that helped the Braves lock up their second win and guarantee at least a split before Monday’s finale.
He still hasn’t fully returned to the perennial MVP-level form he flashed a few years ago, but the second half has looked a lot better than the first. Over his last 56 games, Riley has posted a .735 OPS, and Atlanta is clearly hoping there’s a little more pop coming as the games get bigger. Even so, the possibility of him delivering damage from the bottom of the lineup is exactly the kind of thing that can swing a postseason series.
Sean Murphy belongs in that conversation as well. He only played in two games against Philadelphia and went hitless, but he’s batting .324 with a 1.072 OPS over his last 10 games, and he’s been excellent defensively behind the plate. That kind of production gives Walt Weiss more flexibility with his lineups, and that versatility can matter a lot when the postseason pressure kicks in.
In Other News...
Braves Need Matt Olson To Snap Out Of This At The Plate
Matt Olson looked like one of the anchors Atlanta could lean on through the first half of the 2026 season, when the power and overall production were both there in a way that fit his usual middle-of-the-order role. Since the break, though, the profile has changed in ways the Braves have to notice, with the batting average, on-base percentage and launch-angle sweet spot percentage all sliding as the season has worn on.
The encouraging part is that this does not look like a hitter simply flailing away without answers. Olsons strikeout rate has actually come down, which suggests he is putting more balls in play, but the quality of those swings and his damage against fastballs have not been the same, and his walk rate has also dipped from last season. For Atlanta, the path back is pretty clear in theory if not always in practice: cleaner swing decisions, more walks and a better handle on the pitches he usually punishes. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Ugly At Bats Put Tim Hyers Back Under Fire
The Braves offensive issues have been hard to miss for much of the season, and they showed up again in a recent game against Jesus Luzardo. Atlanta continues to run one of the highest swing and chase rates in baseball, a profile that has too often led to poor at-bats, weak contact and long stretches where the lineup looks out of sync. Since Tim Hyers took over as hitting coach in 2024, the approach has still centered heavily on the home run, with little evidence of the plate discipline needed to consistently grind through quality pitching.
Luzardo took direct advantage of that style, getting Braves hitters to expand the zone and settling into a rhythm as the night went on. For a lineup that has battled similar problems in both the regular season and postseason, the larger concern is not just one rough game but how familiar the script has become. Atlanta keeps waiting for the offense to turn, but the underlying habits are still leaving the club vulnerable whenever an opposing pitcher can stay ahead and make them chase. [Read more 🡒]
Ozzie Albies Is Forcing A Braves Future Fans Never Expected
Ozzie Albies second-half slide has made for an uneasy stretch at the keystone, even as the Braves continue to view him as one of the more recognizable faces in the organization. Since August 1, he has hit .205/.277/.320 over 34 games, a downturn that stands out for a player who has long been part of Atlantas core and whose value has usually come from steady production and team control.
Still, the bigger story may be what comes next rather than what has happened lately. Atlanta is expected to exercise Albies final contract option because it is affordable and preserves flexibility, but that same setup also keeps the door open to trade discussions before the lockout. His future beyond 2027 is no sure thing, and a player once seen as a long-term fixture may now be moving toward a far less predictable chapter. [Read more 🡒]