After an incredibly successful home stand, the Atlanta Braves got their road trip off to a good start over the weekend in taking two out of three from the Diamondbacks. Winning the series required the Braves to overcome giving up four homers to Eugenio Suarez on Saturday, but a series win is a series win and now the Braves head to Colorado.
While an upcoming series against the Rockies should be an easy one, Atlanta is going to still need to be vigilant as games at Coors Field can get out of hand in a hurry. Not only that, but the Braves have some issues with their roster that will need sorting out during that series.
Braves News: AJ Smith-Shawver widely expected to return against Rockies
With the Braves claiming Ian Anderson over the weekend, there were some fans that assumed that he would resume starting for Atlanta given that is what he was doing as soon as this spring. However, with Anderson being shifted to the bullpen with the Angels and not stretched out whatsoever, the Braves appear to have another plan in mind for their rotation.
From the moment that the Braves sent AJ Smith-Shawver down to the minor leagues, it was a puzzling choice. Bryce Elder just doesn't have much in the way of upside and AJSS had pitched well his last time out. It appears as though that is being remedied as it is expected by those around the team that Smith-Shawver will start Tuesday and Anderson is strictly a bullpen option for now.
Braves News: Ozzie Albies' RISP struggles getting a lot more attention lately
While Ozzie Albies' numbers have improved a little bit from the start of the season, there is nothing to be excited about with a .644 OPS across 27 games. Making things worse is that one aspect of his game that has seemingly left him is Albies' ability to hit with runner's in scoring position and beat writers have taken notice coming out of the weekend.
After Sunday's loss, Albies is now 2-16 in 2025 with two outs and runners in scoring position which is quite bad and definitely not what you want from the 5-6 spot in the lineup. Moving Albies down in the order may be the best solution, but moving the switch-hitter could create some bullpen matchup issues for the Braves lineup as a result.
Braves News: Prospect EJ Exposito hit for the cycle over the weekend
EJ Exposito isn't a name that most Braves fans will know. He is an infield prospect that was drafted in the 16th round back in 2022 and has done little in his first three seasons of his professional career to get much attention. However, that has changed this year as not only is he off to a hot start overall, but Exposito also hit for the cycle over the weekend.
E.J. Exposito conquers the cycle! ⚔️
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) April 27, 2025
The @Braves third baseman tallies the first cycle in @GoEmperors history -- the franchise's first such milestone since Joey Meneses in 2014 🎇 pic.twitter.com/4AAlGaVu0d
It is pretty unlikely that Exposito turns into much of a prospect as he is repeating high-A this year after a rough 2024 and we are only talking about a seven game sample from him in 2025 thus far. However, getting Rome's first cycle since 2014 is pretty cool and at 23 years old, Exposito still has a chance to force his way into promotion conversations.