How to Fix the Atlanta Braves After a Disastrous 2025

The Atlanta Braves, just a year removed from being one of baseball’s most intimidating squads, now face the real possibility of their first losing season since 2017. Once tagged as the next MLB powerhouse, they’ve run into a mess of injuries, underwhelming performances, and a roster that can’t seem to settle.

The team still has a long-term core, but short-term problems are everywhere. Atlanta’s sudden fall is a reminder—no matter how loaded you look, nothing’s guaranteed in this game.

A Rotation Devastated by Injuries

Everything started to unravel on the mound. The Braves’ deep pitching staff collapsed in a matter of weeks.

They lost Spencer Strider, Reynaldo López, and Spencer Schwellenbach to injuries. Suddenly, the club had to patch holes with older arms who just don’t have it anymore.

The Cost of Losing Fried and Morton

Even before the injuries, the Braves didn’t really replace two pillars of their rotation. Max Fried and Charlie Morton left, taking nearly 340 innings with them.

The front office tried plugging those gaps with guys like Carlos Carrasco and Erick Fedde. It didn’t work—production fell off a cliff and the starting staff turned into one of the league’s weakest.

An Offense in Steep Decline

Back in 2023, Atlanta’s lineup looked unstoppable. Now, it’s barely a shadow of what it once was.

Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, and Marcell Ozuna—all of them have struggled to find their old form. It’s tough to watch, honestly.

Outfield Woes and the Acuña Burden

Things got even worse when Jurickson Profar was hit with an 80-game suspension. The Braves tried to fill the gap with Jarred Kelenic and Alex Verdugo, but neither panned out.

This left Ronald Acuña Jr. carrying the outfield offense almost single-handedly. Not even a superstar can do it all in today’s game.

The Shortstop Struggle

Shortstop turned into a black hole for Atlanta’s lineup. Orlando Arcia got released after a long slump.

His replacement, Nick Allen, has been the worst hitter in baseball this year—though his glove is solid. That kind of dead spot in the order just drags everything down.

Bullpen Breakdown

For years, the Braves leaned on a reliable bullpen with Raisel Iglesias closing games. This season, though, Iglesias blew four saves before the All-Star break.

The bullpen slipped from elite to below average, and in tight games, that’s a killer.

The Road Ahead: 2026 and Beyond

Looking ahead, it’s not all doom and gloom. Most of the injured arms should return next year.

The team’s already seen flashes from rookie Hurston Waldrep, who could end up a top-end starter before long.

Offseason Goals and Roster Questions

The front office probably needs to chase down:

• A veteran starter for stability.
• A shortstop who can actually hit.
• Someone to replace Marcell Ozuna at DH and bring some consistency.
• Maybe even a new closer to either push or replace Iglesias.

Change is coming, but Atlanta still has a young, talented core led by Acuña and Riley. With some luck and the right moves, there’s a real shot they’ll get back on track.

Final Thoughts

The 2025 Atlanta Braves season really shows that depth matters just as much as star power. Injuries, regression, and shaky backup options dragged a contender into mediocrity.

Key players are coming back, and the foundation still looks solid. If the Braves make the right moves this winter, there’s still reason to believe they’ll bounce back.

—

If you’d like, I can also create **SEO-optimized meta title and description** for this blog post so it’s ready for maximum search visibility. Would you like me to do that?
 
Here is the source article for this story: What went wrong with the Braves this year — and how to fix them