2023
Overall, 2023 was a relatively tame year for weird lineupes. Unlike 2024 (spoiler), the Braves were able to stay mostly healthy all season long.
The weirdest lineup from this season came when both Orlando Arcia and Michael Harris were out with injuries. There were a few iterations of Sam Hilliard and Vaughn Grissom in the lineup that felt off, but strangest, in my opinion, came on April 16.
Here's how the #Braves will line up today in KC!#ForTheA pic.twitter.com/95Zp8obE2j
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 16, 2023
Marcell Ozuna hadn't figured out the magic of a broken pitching machine yet and wasn't worth playing. With Sean Murphy needing a rest day behind the plate, the Braves turned to Chadwick Tromp, sliding Murphy over to DH.
Overall, this isn't a strange lineup compared to the other years, especially with the core of Acuña, Albies, Olson, Riley, and Murphy in the lineup.
2024
Whereas 2023 was a relatively injury free (and weird lineup free), season, 2024 was the exact opposite of it.
The 2024 Braves starting nine got half a game as an entire team. Sean Murphy then went down with an oblique injury. The day before he was set to return, Ronald Acuña Jr. tore his other ACL. Even before this moment, Zack Short, Luis Guillorme, David Fletcher all made cameos in starting roles.
After the Acuña injury, things continued to go downhill, and somehow, even before Austin Riley went down for the season with a broken wrist, Brian Snitker had no choice but to put out this lineup.
Series finale!#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/ExBwLqB2rO
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 28, 2024
Going into this game, Adam Duvall, Ramón Laureano, Nacho Alvarez, Orland Arcia, and Luke Williams all had OPSes under .600. In what felt like a must win against the rival Mets, and after two humiliating games in that series, it looked like the Braves were just going to roll over and die.
Hilariously, this lineup not only won the Braves the game, they dominated. The club got homers from Austin Riley, Matt Olson, Ramón Laureano, and Orlando Arcia as they won the game 9-2. Sometimes, the weirdest lineups with get you the much needed W.
Of course, it wouldn't be a 2024 Braves game if there wasn't an injury. This time, it was Reynaldo Lopez, who would leave the game early with forearm soreness.