Alex Anthopoulos built this Atlanta Braves offense to slug. Unfortunately, the slugging hasn't come as frequently as fans would have liked in 2025. The rollercoaster of offensive production is a big reason why the sky was falling in Atlanta just a couple weeks ago.
Thankfully, the Braves have since turned their slump into inspiring baseball when they needed it most. Atlanta just polished off a series sweep against their NL East rival, and the division leading New York Mets. Thursday night offered was a very enjoyable watch as the Braves put together some of their best at-bats in quite sometime. Ultimately, that high-level plate discipline broke the Mets and helped send Atlanta on a happy flight to Miami.
Braves see jump in number of quality at-bats in series against Mets
After completing the sweep, the Braves have now won 24 of their last 33 games against the Mets. Thursday night's game was a pitching duel early on, but it was the Braves who broke through in the fifth inning in large part because of their patience at the plate.
When Mets starter Clay Holmes had to face Atlanta's lineup the third time through the order, the quality of at-bats really reached another level. Ronald Acuna Jr. led off with yet another walk, and Olson's base on balls sandwiched Riley's hard hit single to load the bases.
This set the stage for Drake Baldwin, who had cooled off considerably since his hot month of May. The bases were loaded with two outs in a tie ball game, and Holmes was clearly emptying the tank versus Baldwin. The rookie catcher spoiled more than a few really good pitcher's pitches to extend the at-bat, before eventually drawing a bases loaded walk to give Atlanta the lead.
Walk it like I talk it
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 20, 2025
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The Braves' patience didn't end their either as normally free-swinging Ozzie Albies followed up with another bases loaded walk to extend the lead. Atlanta waited out the Mets pitching staff all night, and by the end of the sixth inning they already had drawn nine walks on the night.
Ronald Acuna Jr. didn't record a hit last night, but his two walks brought his OBP to a ridiculous .490 clip. Matt Olson maintained his great approach with two walks as well, and his bases clearing double was the preverbal dagger to the Mets chances.
Between the numerous outs of the base paths and multiple walks issued by the pitching staff, the Mets clearly didn't play their best series. That being said, one can still recognize that the Braves were on another level of locked in regarding their patient approach this series. Hopefully there is plenty more of it to come down in Miami.