The Atlanta Braves have pretty much guaranteed they will make the postseason. However, they do have some personnel who won't make the cut. The next two months will be proving grounds for players to make their case for the playoff roster.
A lackluster pitching performance or poor stretch at the plate could doom anyone on the fringes of Atlanta's roster at this point. Here we present a few Braves players who are actively trying to make a case for themselves.
Here are 4 Braves players who are doing their best to prove they deserve a spot on the playoff roster
Mike Yastrzemski
Mike Yastrzemski hasn't been as effective as the Braves hoped he would be. The lefty is batting .227 over 107 games, with nine homers, 34 RBI, and a .700 OPS. His defense is a big reason that Atlanta will keep him around in the postseason.
So far with the Braves, he has hit a lot better as a sub than as a starter, and that's a skill the Braves will need in the playoffs. Yaz has a .316 average and a 1.001 OPS over 28 games as a sub compared to his .214 average and .655 OPS as a starter.
Dom Smith
Dom Smith has been a great clubhouse leader this season and has had some great offensive moments. However, that magic has all but faded as he's batting just .264 this season with eight homers, 44 RBI, and a .712 OPS. Atlanta's DH has a .231/.286/.231 slash line over his last seven games. That will need to improve by a significant margin if he wants to stick around.
Jim Jarvis
Jim Jarvis surprised everyone this season and has played himself into a starting role. While he is a great defensive shortstop, his bat has fallen significantly. It's time for the Braves to consider that he may not be the answer. Jarvis has a lowly .587 OPS and .270 OBP this season. Ha-Seong Kim was horrid earlier this season, but it may be time to give him more reps. He at least has some playoff experience under his belt.
Ray Kerr
Ray Kerr worked his way back to the roster after having Tommy John surgery and missing the entire 2025 season. He has a 3.09 ERA over four minor league levels, with five walks and 16 strikeouts over 11.2 innings. His lack of MLB innings could be why he is left off the playoff roster. However, he is pretty effective against lefties, so that could help his case.
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