The worst-case scenario has happened for the Atlanta Braves as they suffered a brutal loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday. The Braves are now 0-7 after being swept by two of baseball's unbeaten teams in San Diego and Los Angeles.
No team that has started the season 0-7 has ever made the playoffs. That's not a good omen for the remainder of the season. This loss stung worse than any of the previous six because the Braves held the lead for the majority of the game.
Atlanta took advantage early of a rare rough start for Los Angeles starter Blake Snell. Snell lasted just four innings allowing five runs with four walks and two strikeouts on 80 pitches (45 strikes). This put the Braves up 5-0 in the second inning but they wouldn't score the rest of the game.
Braves dealt crushing blow in walk-off loss to Dodgers
Bryce Elder, who started for the injured Reynaldo Lopez, pitched well but allowed three runs on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts. All of the runs were scored via home runs by Tommy Edman and Michael Conforto.
Closer Raisel Iglesias came into the game with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning with Atlanta up two runs. He walked the first batter faced but induced a ground out to get the second out of the inning. Max Muncy, who struggled with errant throws Wednesday night, broke Braves fans' hearts with a two-run double to tie things up.
BALLGAME.
— MLB (@MLB) April 3, 2025
Shohei Ohtani sends everyone home ... with his bobblehead! pic.twitter.com/Js8h2qVaLw
Iglesias started the ninth with a strikeout, but Shohei Ohtani destroyed a first-pitch changeup for the walk-off win, making history. They are now 8-0 and are the first defending World Series champions to begin the season with that record.
Braves have a tough road ahead after hellacious West Coast road trip
The Braves had their chance to add on runs with the bases loaded in the sixth inning with their heavy hitters coming to the plate. Unfortunately, Ozuna, Riley, and Olson were unable to get the job done, and that came back to bite them. Atlanta continued to struggle with runners in scoring position as they were 5-for-15 in the series finale. This has to change if they have any hope of turning things around.
The season is getting late very quickly. Atlanta has a day off on Thursday and prepares for their first homestand of the season against the Miami Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies. Both of those teams sit atop the division standings currently.
This horrific start to the season gives the Braves the opportunity to make history of their own. They can turn things around and easily find themselves in the postseason. Despite all the bad things that have happened, time and time again, this group has proven how resilient they are. If they can find a way into the postseason after the disaster that was 2024, they can do it again this season.
However, the Braves are going to have to do better at the plate. Manager Brian Snitker stated they are all very aware of how bad of a spot they are in. He told Atlanta's media pool, "Those guys in there are more aware of it than y’all are. They feel it. It’s hard. And there’s nothing you can do but to fight your way out of it."
The bullpen has also been an absolute disaster and Alex Anthopoulos did not do enough to address the needs in that department. Right now, the Braves rank 21st in bullpen ERA at 5.40 over 23.1 innings. This cannot continue. Now, Craig Kimbrel is working his way toward the big league club but there's no guarantee he will pitch well once he does.
Spencer Strider cannot return soon enough. Atlanta's starting rotation has struggled as well with a 4.91 ERA through 33 innings. Grant Holmes looked okay in his start and AJSS showed his potential as well. Atlanta needs one more dependable starter in the mix if they're going to have a chance at turning things around.
Being the only team in baseball without a win is hard, but that won't last forever. This team has too much talent not to get things going in the right direction. It will take huge leadership in the clubhouse and help from the front office to get back to where they want to be.