The Atlanta Braves are off to a nightmare start this season, sitting at 2-0 with the worst offense in baseball. As a team, they’re batting .193 with a league-worst .577 OPS, struggling to generate any momentum at the plate. The slump has raised alarm bells, and even Hall of Famer Chipper Jones is chiming in. Appearing on The Athletic’s “Starkville” podcast with Jayson Stark and Doug Glanville, Jones was asked the question on every fan’s mind: Is it time for concern, panic or doom? His answer offers insight, but invites a larger conversation about where this Braves team is headed.
Chipper Jones Talks Braves’ Struggles
“Probably somewhere between concern and panic,” Jones said. The Braves already sit six games behind the Philadelphia Phillies and 5 1/2 games behind the New York Mets, just two weeks into the season.
“You’re seeing them miss having Spencer Strider in the starting rotation. You’re seeing them miss having Ronald Acuña Jr. at the top of the lineup,” Jones explained. “Any team in baseball that didn’t have a Cy Young candidate in their starting rotation and didn’t have an MVP in their lineup, you would probably tend to struggle.”
But it’s not just the absences that concern him.
“You’re seeing dismal hitting. Situational hitting has been worse. Bridging the gap between starter and closer in the bullpen has also been an issue,” Jones added. “We’re not that deep.”
More Than Just Missing Stars
While the absences of Strider and Acuña are significant blows, the Braves’ issues run deeper. Even with their eventual returns, Atlanta needs to improve across the board to get back on track.
Depth has already become a concern, and it’s only April. Outfielder Jurickson Profar was hit with an 80-game suspension, and Reynaldo López has undergone surgery, further straining a pitching staff that’s already stretched thin.
As Jones alluded to, bridging the gap between the starter and closer has become a nightly challenge. With the lineup struggling in key situations, the Braves are leaning heavily on unproven or overextended options—something they had hoped to avoid in a season where their championship window remains wide open.
Offensive Woes Extend Beyond Injuries and Absences
In a recent article, Stark highlighted the Braves’ offensive struggles over the past three seasons. He noted a sharp decline from leading the National League in runs scored in 2023 to ranking 10th in 2025. Stark also pointed out that the Braves have ineffective with runners in scoring position, batting .173 in those situations. These observations echo Jones’s concerns about the team’s depth and situational hitting, indicating the the Braves’ issues go beyond the absence of key players. To truly get back on track, they’ll need a comprehensive approach to address these persistnet offensive struggles.
Main Photo: © Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The post A Braves Legend Weighs In on the Teams Brutal Start appeared first on Last Word On Baseball.