When was the last time the Atlanta Braves had a formidable bench in postseason play? This is a question you ask yourself when a big moment comes up in the game, and the Braves send...Dominic Smith up to the plate with the game on the line. The same Dominic Smith who had an 86 wRC+ in the second half of the regular season.
Yet, time and time again, the Braves keep reaching the postseason with a bench full of guys you don't want pinch-hitting in a big spot. The Braves carried 15 position players on their Wild Card roster, yet no one on the bench poses any real threat at the plate. Playing matchups in the postseason is a solid strategy; unfortunately, the Braves' options are not all that inspiring.
Dominic Smith batting with the game on the line gave many Braves fans flashbacks of when Vaughn Grissom fanned to end Atlanta's season in Philadelphia back in 2023. We're not asking for prime Barry Bonds to be stashed on the bench, but it sure feels like Alex Anthopoulos needs to start making a concerted effort to improve the bench going forward.
First and second with two outs in the 10th and the Braves go with a pinch hitter who has had just 16 plate appearances going back to Aug. 22.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) September 30, 2026
Braves lack of a quality bench reared it's ugly head once again in the postseason
The loss in Game Two loss to the was brutal enough, but it hurts even more when the Braves put together a rally that just falls short. The reason of course being, Atlanta's roster weakness was exposed in the high-leverage moment. With Dominic Smith, Rowdy Tellez, Luke Williams, Brewer Hicklen, and DaShawn Keirsey Jr. available on the bench, manager Walt Weiss went with Smith, the veteran who has been on the roster all season long.
To be fair, Lane Thomas' injury made things a lot worse for Atlanta's bench, but that doesn't excuse Anthopoulos entirely. Back in 2021, the Braves had the likes of Joc Pederson coming off the bench to provide heroics in the NLDS. Atlanta hasn't had that type of firepower to invoke fear in opposing pitchers since then.
Naturally, a lot of the attention for Game Three will surround Atlanta's pitching plan. However, if the game is another closely contested battle and the Braves trot out a bench bat no one in the stadium has confidence will get a hit, then Atlanta has a much bigger (and all too familiar) problem.
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