Ronald Acuña Jr. has owned the spotlight for the Braves lately, and with good reason. A 1.129 OPS over his last 21 games is the kind of surge that takes over the conversation. But Atlanta’s late-season push is being powered by more than just its right fielder.
The Braves enter Sunday with their magic number to clinch the NL East down to one, and the formula they’ve used in September has become pretty clear. They haven’t done much damage against opposing starters, but once the bullpen comes in, Atlanta has found ways to cash in. Most of that work has come from the top of the order, and that stretch could end up looking like a preview of how this team wants to win in October.
Acuña is driving plenty of it, but Matt Olson and Drake Baldwin are heating up too, and that matters just as much for what comes next.
On Friday night, Olson made history by becoming the fifth Brave to post multiple 40-homer seasons in a Braves uniform. The milestone came with a much more practical benefit, too: he’s climbed out of an August slump. Over his last seven games, Olson has hit .367/.387/.567 and pushed his season fWAR past 4.0.
That kind of stretch can change the shape of an offense. When Olson is barreling the ball and stacking hard-hit contact, he has the kind of power that can carry a lineup deep into October.
Baldwin is trending the right way as well. His overall numbers still resemble his Rookie of the Year season in 2025, but the recent form is what the Braves will care about now. Over his last 15 games, the 25-year-old has hit .328/.362/.500 and helped spark late-game offense.
He’s only hit two home runs in that span, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Baldwin has also driven several doubles that came close to leaving the yard, a good sign that his power is back where Atlanta wants it. After an abbreviated June slump, he’s settled back in.
That’s the real reason this stretch matters. Home runs drive postseason baseball, and the Braves suddenly have three key hitters producing at the same time.
Acuña, Olson and Baldwin may wind up being the biggest factor in how far Atlanta goes. Right now, the encouraging part is simple: all three are clicking when the Braves need it most.
In Other News...
Braves Could Put Expensive Core Pieces On The Block This Winter
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Austin Riley, Reynaldo Lopez and Spencer Strider all fit into that uneasy conversation for different reasons. Riley has had a disappointing offensive season despite the long-term contract on his ledger, Lopez has battled injuries and inconsistency, and Strider has fought through injury while searching for his sharpest form. None of that means a move is inevitable, but it does leave the Braves with a complicated set of decisions if they decide the easiest path forward is not to keep every major piece in place. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Are Honoring A Franchise Figure Who Helped Shape Atlanta Baseball
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His imprint still shows up in the franchises memory through key personnel decisions and player development, including Bobby Cox and Dale Murphy, and the Braves used both a game broadcast and social media to call attention to that legacy. Lucas is already in the Braves Hall of Fame, but the anniversary serves as a reminder of how much of the clubs modern identity was built under his watch, and how long his place in baseball history has deserved more than a passing mention. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Just Delivered The Late-Season Win Fans Needed
Ronald Acua Jr. gave the Braves exactly the kind of lift they needed in a late-season push, breaking open the game with a go-ahead grand slam as Atlanta finished off a 6-3 win and sealed the series victory. It was the sort of complete night that has mattered so much down the stretch, with quality starts from Grant Holmes and Hayden Wesneski helping keep the game on Atlantas terms from start to finish.
At 91-64, the Braves are now close to clinching the NL East title, and the timing of this win only adds to its value. The rotation has steadied, the lineup delivered in a big moment, and the club is suddenly lining up the final stretch with a little more breathing room and a lot more momentum. [Read more 🡒]