Frustration is mounting across Braves country. Players, media, coaches, and fans everywhere are rightfully sour about Atlanta's performance through the first 18 games of the 2025 season. The noticeable issues are all to familiar to those of 2024 where the offense finds itself in a nightly battle to produce sufficient runs to win baseball games.
It's true the absence of Ronald Acuna Jr. and suspension of Jurickson Profar are solid excuses for the abysmal outfield production thus far. However, the struggles with RISP and high strikeout rates up and down the lineup has done Atlanta no favors either.
There's only so much manager Brian Snitker can do as far as lineup construction with how these guys are playing right now. However, he is continually making one severe mistake that is haunting the offense. The decision? Batting Michael Harris II leadoff against right-handed pitchers.
top 25 and bottom 25 players
— BrooksGate (@Brooks_Gate) April 17, 2025
by win probability added pic.twitter.com/8PnTyzihXZ
Michael Harris II needs to be batting towards the bottom of the Braves lineup
Let's be clear here, without Ronald Acuña Jr. and Jurickson Profar the Braves don't have an overly impressive option to bat leadoff on a nightly basis. Ozzie Albies is more than fine against left-handed pitchers, but it's rare to square off against a LHP in today's game. Against right-handed pitching the Braves have no one who really fits the bill of a leadoff hitter.
However, one thing is clear...the struggling Michael Harris II is NOT who should sit atop the Braves' lineup. Amongst Braves' hitters with at least 20 plate apperances on the season, MH2 has the worst on-base percentage (.208) on the team. His 39 wRC+ is also the second worst on the team just ahead of the recently demoted Bryan De La Cruz.
It's clear Harris needs to be batting towards the bottom of the order while he tries to get on track this season. Pitching across the league will tell you it's no secret Harris has struggled with plate discipline for the majority of his young career. Not only is he struggling again in 2025, but he's actually regressed to career worst marks this season.
Harris is striking out in 25.7% of his plate appearances, a career high, and walking in just 4.1% of hit plate appearances, a career low. Harris' O-Swing% (percentage of pitches a batter swings at outside the strike zone) is at a career high as well at 45.6% the seventh highest mark in all of baseball.
It's hard to formulate an alternative for Atlanta as currently constructed, but thinking outside the box may be something Snitker needs to do. The streaking Austin Riley, or powerful Matt Olson both command the strike zone much better than Harris right now. Although, then you're subtracting from the run producing spots in the lineup. However, let's be honest it's not like the Braves have exceled at driving in runners with RISP this season. No matter what decision they make one thing is clear, Michael Harris II is not a leadoff hitter.