When Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy came back from the injured list after missing almost three months with a fractured finger, it wasn't entirely clear how he'd fit into the Braves' plans. All-Star Drake Baldwin was the clear everyday catcher, but with Murphy's pedigree behind the plate, it was debatable how much of the catching share Murphy should get.
So far, Murphy has drawn three starts in the eight days he's been off the IL, with just one of the three starts coming against a lefty, but the Braves should be more aggressive with their secondary catcher's playing time. With just 42 games remaining in the 2026 season, the Braves would be best if Murphy continues to draw starts behind the plate.
Sean Murphy needs to bee the Braves primary catcher
Of course, even if the Braves commit to having Murphy behind the plate four times a week, it wouldn't remove their All-Star catcher from the lineup. Instead, the Braves would simply move Baldwin to the DH spot a few more times a week.
Aside from Baldwin's month-long IL stint, the 2025 NL Rookie of the Year and 2026 NL All-Star starter has not missed a game while on the active roster. He's started in all but one of these games, and has been the starting catcher in 31 of his 64.5% of these games. Although Baldwin's twice-a-week starts at DH are giving him pseudo-days off, he's still behind the plate for the majority of the week.
With Murphy back, swapping the percentage of time Baldwin is behind the plate will not only make sure their star catcher is fresh for the postseason, it can also improve both Baldwin's offense, and Atlanta's pitching staff's performance.
In August, Baldwin has slashed just .220/.273/.244, which could be a product of the Braves sophomore catcher starting every single game. Having Baldwin DH more regularly will help slow the wear and tear that catching full-time in the comes from playing everyday in the Atlanta summertime heat.
Dominic Smith, who has been the Braves primary DH against right-handed pitching, has certainly had his moments, but has mostly been unexceptional this season. Although he's had a good start to the second half, Smith rates as a below-average hitter for the season, with a 98 OPS+ this year, and offers no defensive value.
Although it's questionable whether Murphy can match Smith's offensive production – although Murphy's 2025 97 OPS+ is just one point away from Smith's 2026 98 OPS+ – his defense and pitch calling is still extremely valuable. While Baldwin has rated as a slightly-below average defensive catcher in his career, Murphy has accumulated the eighth-most FRV since he debuted in 2019.
This, of course, doesn't mean moving Baldwin to DH everyday. Baldwin would still draw two to three starts a week behind the plate. But with Murphy on the roster, and with the playoffs just a month-and-a-half away, giving Murphy the bulk of the playing time is the best way to make sure everyone is playing at their best when games matter the most.
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