Ha-Seong Kim deservedly grabbed the spotlight Thursday morning, because that kind of finish writes itself. But Sean Murphy’s night may matter just as much for the Braves moving forward.
Murphy, who has spent most of the season on the IL, was in the lineup for back-to-back games for the second time all year. Atlanta got paid off for it. The veteran catcher went 3-for-4, homered, and his blast ended up being the difference in the Braves’ win over the Dodgers.
The bigger question was whether that usage would stick. Walt Weiss answered that ahead of Wednesday’s game, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com, saying Murphy will be his catcher for at least half of the remaining regular season games.
That lines up with what the Braves needed all along. Murphy has not been an easy player for Braves fans to embrace.
Atlanta dealt fan favorite William Contreras to get him, paid him a hefty contract, and injuries have kept him from delivering the way the club expected. Still, he remains a valuable piece, especially if he gets consistent run.
The production tends to show up when he plays regularly. Even last season, when he hit below the Mendoza Line over 94 games, Murphy still put together two separate months with an OPS above .900.
In April 2025, he posted a .990 OPS. In July 2025, he finished at .925.
That kind of pop is part of the package, but it’s not even the whole story. The Braves pitching staff has looked better since Murphy returned from the IL, and the difference between him and Drake Baldwin handling the staff has been obvious. That was always part of the appeal for Atlanta’s front office.
If the Braves had a true power DH on track for 30-plus homers, the setup would look different. They don’t, which gives Baldwin room to fill that role while Murphy catches where he adds the most value.
Weiss finally leaning into that reality could end up mattering a lot once October arrives.
In Other News...
Braves May Finally Cut Ties With A Left Field Mistake
Jurickson Profars first season with the Braves has been defined less by what he was expected to provide in left field and more by the disruptions that have followed him there. Atlanta brought him in with the idea that he could help stabilize a spot that has long been in flux, but the time since has been shaped by suspensions under Major League Baseballs performance-enhancing drug policy, including one ban of 80 games and another of 162 games after a second positive test.
Now the Braves are staring at the final year of his contract and weighing whether it still makes sense to carry that commitment into another offseason. The situation has pushed left field back onto the front burner, and the possibility of moving on from Profar is becoming part of the conversation as Atlanta looks for a cleaner answer at the position. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Fans May See Ronald Acuna Jrs Dodgers Mistake Differently Now
Ronald Acuna Jr.s rough night against the Dodgers drew plenty of attention in the moment, both for his struggles at the plate and for a defensive hesitation that helped Shohei Ohtani move into scoring position. From the outside, it looked like a lapse from one of Atlantas most dynamic players, the kind of play that can linger when a series is still fresh in everyones mind.
Braves manager Walt Weiss offered a little more context afterward, explaining that Acuna slowed because Matt Olson was not covering first base, which left the play unclear in real time. Weiss framed it as a shared mistake rather than a solo one, a small but important distinction for a team that will want its stars synced up as the games keep coming. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Just Saw A Big Dodgers Pitching Question Emerge
Roki Sasakis latest outing against the Braves ended early when the Dodgers right-hander was pulled in the fourth inning after a blister developed on his middle finger. He had already allowed multiple baserunners before coming out, and Los Angeles confirmed the injury while the game was still in progress.
For Atlanta, the immediate concern is less about one night and more about what comes next for a Dodgers rotation that has leaned on Sasakis talent and upside. The next step is still uncertain, including whether the issue is serious enough to send him to the injured list, which would add another layer of intrigue to a pitching staff already under scrutiny. [Read more 🡒]