There is a lot we don't know about the Atlanta Braves heading into 2026. Mauricio Dubon as the everyday shortstop until Ha-Seong Kim returns is going to be something to watch, and there is no shortage of injured or formerly injured players whose recoveries are going to be important storylines. However, one change heading into 2026 that could completely alter what the Braves look like on the field is new manager Walt Weiss.
When the Braves finally hired Weiss, some were concerned that he would just be the same stuff we saw under Snit. Snit had many terrific qualities that helped the Braves win a lot of baseball games, but he could also be very stubborn when it came to lineup construction and bullpen. Having a manager who would be more open to modern approaches was desirable for many fans, and hiring Weiss felt like, at first glance, embracing old-school methods instead of modernization.
However, Weiss has worked hard so far to remind everyone that while he worked under Snitker for years and considered him a mentor, Weiss is also his own man who is open to incorporating any and all data at his disposal if it helps the Braves win games. On Opening Day, we will get a sense of exactly what kind of manager Weiss will actually be.
Walt Weiss has a chance to set the tone during his first Opening Day as Braves' manager
Now, should fans be expecting some crazy lineup with Ronald Acuña Jr. hitting 8th and Dubon leading off? Probably not. Weiss has indicated that there are some roles that are pretty well-established at this point, and change for the sake of change is not the way to manage a team in the big leagues.
Still, how he constructs his lineup against a lefty starter will tell us a bit about how much importance Weiss will give specific match-ups and how keen he is to make a lineup that is pretty bulletproof against different relievers. We may also see Weiss change things up from day to day early on as he tries to get a sense of what works and what doesn't with this current group.
Where the biggest differences may be is in how he manages the bullpen. Fans love Snitker, but his insistence on using high leverage arms in games whose outcomes are certain and not using them if the Braves are down a run or two was maddening. It worked out more often than it didn't, but it would not be shocking to see Weiss have a different philosophy and utilize guys differently, especially early on when Atlanta is going to want to spread innings around to avoid early fatigue.
Time will tell exactly how different things will be under Weiss. It takes any manager some time to get their feet under them and figure out exactly how they want to go about their business, and that is going to be true of Weiss despite his long tenure with the Braves. However, the tone will be set on Opening Day, and hopefully, it will come with a positive result.