Braves' struggles and injuries continue early in the 2021 season

By Chris Rickerson | Sports writer

The Atlanta Braves are off to a rough 2021 season with a 19-22 record and sat third place in the National League East standings before the home game with the New York Mets on May 18. 

Last year, the Braves finished at the top of the NL East in the shortened 60-game season and went on to lose in the NLCS in seven games to the world champion Los Angeles Dodgers. 

The Braves have had one of the top offenses in baseball over the last couple years, but they have tended to struggle this season. While they are ranked first in the MLB with 60 home runs on the season, behind the power of leadoff hitter Ronald Acuna Jr., they are ranked 22nd in batting average at .226.

Freddie Freeman was National League MVP in 2020 with a .341 batting average. This season he has started the season off unlike himself with a .218 batting average. Key hitters that had a great season last year, such as Marcell Ozuna, are also struggling. Ozuna is batting .211 batting. 

Atlanta’s pitching has not been very good either, ranking 23rd in earn runs allowed and giving up the sixth most hits in the MLB so far.. 

One of the bright spots for the Braves has been 22-year-old starting pitcher Huascar Ynoa. Ynoa is 4-2 this season with a 3.02 ERA, but went down with injury Sunday, May 16. Ynoa was frustrated with his performance and punched the bench in the dugout, and he will now be out for a couple months. 

Braves’ pitcher Max Fried also went down with injury on Monday, May 17. Atlanta now has found out that starting pitcher Mike Soroka, who has been out with a torn Achilles since August 2020, will have to have surgery on his shoulder and will have a further return date than expected.

These key injuries make the Atlanta Braves’ season even tougher than it already was.

Even though the Braves are having a rough season, they are only three games behind the New York Mets for the lead in the NL East standings entering Tuesday’s play.

Contact Chris Rickerson at crickerson@augusta.edu