Top of the lineup struggles prove how great this Braves team is

The Midday Show with Andy & Randy

Despite the Atlanta Braves falling to the Seattle Mariners Monday night, the Braves are still the best team in Major League Baseball. As a matter of fact, they are the only team in Major League Baseball with a winning percentage over .700. What is going unnoticed by many, but put under a microscope by others, is that three of the Braves top four hitters are hitting under .260 (Acuña - .255, Riley - .225, Olson - .206). With the 2024 season turning May this week, it is probably safe to say that these three men are in an early slump to start the season, but this is okay, and there is definitely no reason to panic. As Braves Manager Brian Snitker says "that's the tough part of this game, you just have to fight through it" (sound courtesy of Braves.com). He's right. Baseball is a grind, slumps will happen, and this likely isn't the last time this season that players will go through this. Typically, when three of a baseball team's top four hitters are going through struggles, the baseball team also struggles... but not this team. This is the most complete lineup from top to bottom in Major League Baseball. Marcell Ozuna is hitting .330, good for tenth in MLB. Marcell Ozuna is doing this while hitting fifth. Michael Harris II is hitting .306. There are only four leadoff hitters with as many ABs as Michael Harris II that are hitting for a higher average, yet Michael Harris usually hits seventh. Newcomer Jared Kelenic, who many questioned his addition to the team, is hitting .306 while platooning left field with power hitter Adam Duvall. I could go further, and deeper with stats, but I don't need to. This team is good... no, this team is great. Andy Bunker and Randy McMichael discuss the greatness of this team, and how much trouble that the rest of the league will be in, when the Braves best hitters break out of their collective "slump".