In the early weeks of the 2025 season, the Atlanta Braves’ struggles were somewhat understandable given the absence of two of their biggest stars, Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuña Jr. Their return was expected to spark a turnaround and restore the team’s contender status—but that hasn’t been the case.
While Strider is still finding his rhythm, Acuña Jr. has been dominant since coming off the injured list. Even so, it’s increasingly evident that the Braves’ offensive issues are too deep-rooted for one player, no matter how impactful, to fix on his own.
Even with Ronald Acuña Jr. doing his thing, the Braves’ offense is a mess
If you had told Braves fans that Ronald Acuña Jr. would return with a scorching .367/.441/.733 slash line over his first eight games and the starting rotation would post a 2.98 ERA in May, optimism would’ve been sky-high. Yet, despite those positives, Atlanta finished the month just 13-14 and failed to gain ground after their slow start to 2025.
While some shaky bullpen outings and a few rough starts didn’t help, the primary issue has been the offense. Even with Acuña Jr. back and red-hot, the Braves went just 3-5 in those eight games, averaging only 3.75 runs per contest. That stretch included three losses in which they scored one run or fewer—underscoring how little support Acuña has had.
Braves fans were hoping Ronald Acuña Jr.’s return would spark a turnaround, but it’s clear that even his elite performance won’t be enough on its own. While Matt Olson and Austin Riley were solid in May, they weren’t dominant, and continued struggles from Michael Harris II, Ozzie Albies, and Sean Murphy have left Atlanta looking like a roughly .500 team.
There’s still time to change the narrative. A strong run in June and July could erase the sting of starting June three games under .500. But for that to happen, Acuña Jr.—and emerging contributor Drake Baldwin—will need more consistent support from the rest of the lineup. Without it, 2025 could turn into a frustrating grind.
