Eli White, Joey Bart, and Jorge Mateo are in the Braves’ starting lineup for Game 2 against the Cardinals, with Walt Weiss mostly sticking to the same shape he used last night.
The top of the order doesn’t change much. Weiss is going with the same 1-5 again, and Drake Baldwin stays in the cleanup spot while serving as the designated hitter. Austin Riley slides up one spot to hit sixth, Joey Bart is behind the plate and batting eighth, and Jorge Mateo gets the nod at shortstop in the nine-hole instead of Jim Jarvis.
Bart has one notable edge in this matchup: he’s the only Brave with a homer off Matthew Liberatore, doing it in seven plate appearances. He’ll catch Reynaldo López tonight.
Mike Yastrzemski was already headed to the bench against the left-handed Liberatore, with Eli White set to start in his place. But the day took a turn when Yastrzemski was placed on the injured list with left elbow inflammation as part of a batch of roster moves announced this afternoon. He’d been swinging the bat well in July before the injury hit.
On the Cardinals’ side, rookie JJ Wetherholt stays in the leadoff spot after his recent extension, with Iván Herrera batting second and catching. Alec Burleson moves up to third, which pushes Jordan Walker down to fourth. The Cardinals are also turning to the guys who came off the bench last night: Lars Nootbar starts in left field, Bryan Torres is the DH, and Nathan Church is in center field.
In Other News...
Braves Fans Had One Big Reason To Watch Cam Caminiti Closely
The 2026 MLB All-Star Futures Game in Philadelphia gave Braves fans a fresh look at Cam Caminiti, the organizations top pitching prospect, in a setting built for baseballs next wave of talent. The American League rolled to a 6-1 win over the National League, but the showcase was really about the names scattered across the field, with Jess Made, Kade Anderson, Seth Hernandez, Liam Doyle, Leo De Vries, JoJo Parker and Nathan Flewelling all getting a turn in front of a national audience.
Caminiti did his part to keep Atlantas interest alive, working a scoreless inning and striking out one in his outing. The bigger buzz from the game came elsewhere, as Flewelling turned in the kind of moment that can define a showcase like this, leaving Braves followers to track not just how Caminiti looked, but what his brief appearance says about where he stands in the organizations pipeline. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Just Confirmed A Ronald Acuna Jr. Update Fans Needed
Ronald Acuna Jr. is set to take another step back toward Atlantas lineup, with a rehab assignment beginning Monday at the FCL Braves. It is the latest checkpoint in a season that has again been interrupted by injury for one of the Braves most important players, and it comes with the kind of caution that has followed Acuna since his breakout years were derailed by repeated setbacks.
Ha-Seong Kim will also be in the FCL Braves mix as he starts his own rehab work, giving the club a pair of notable names to monitor at the same level. For Atlanta, the bigger picture is familiar by now: Acuna still changes the lineup when he is available, but every return now carries the lingering question of how long he can stay on the field after so many stops and starts. [Read more 🡒]
Braves May Need To Cut Bait On A Veteran Bat Fast
The Braves hold on the NL East has tightened enough that every roster spot is starting to matter a little more, and that is why the conversation around the lineup is beginning to shift. With Philadelphia and Miami closing the gap, Atlanta may not be able to carry underperforming pieces much longer, especially with the All-Star break offering a natural checkpoint for a club that still expects to contend.
Dominic Smith has become one of the more obvious names to watch because the bat that looked useful earlier in the season has not stayed at that level. Atlanta has already had to weigh how much value he brings as a designated hitter and outfielder, and the front office could soon have to decide whether the fit is worth keeping around if the offense does not rebound quickly after the break. [Read more 🡒]