The path to success in MLB is paved with peaks and valleys. However, for some teams, the issue comes in waves. Currently, the Braves have faced a series of issues that have sent ripples through the team. The first blow came when their $75 million star was sidelined with a major injury, throwing a wrench into the team’s pitching approaches. However, the second blow could be more damaging—uncertainty related to Ronald Acuna Junior, their brightest star and a talent whose future with the team has become tenuous.

Spencer Strider’s hamstring injury has left a huge gap in the Braves’ pitching staff. Identified for his dominance on the mound, his injury could not have come at a worse time. He now needs weeks of recovery and the team is left scrambling to fill the gap. As former MLB executive David Samson said, “hamstrings are tough; they were my least favorite injury for a player to have, worse than Tommy John.” 

Despite such a large setback, Strider‘s necessity to the team cannot be understated. With a record-breaking 281 strikeouts in 2023, the star was an elite name in the Braves pitching rotation. However, because of an elbow injury in 2024, he did not deliver effectively. 

But are they finished? Samson thinks otherwise. In his statement, “the Braves are not finished, they have the depth to cope with Strider’s absence.” However, the force is mounting. How the team reacts to this injury will determine how far they can go this season.

Transitioning from Strider’s injury, there is the pressing issue of Acuna Jr., which casts a long shadow over the team. Acuña’s public fallout with the Braves management has raised eyebrows across MLB. The dynamic outfielder has been vocal related to his frustrations with the team. For instance, Ronald Acuña Jr. called out Brian Snitker for a double standards in a now deleted social media post.

If the tension continues, it could establish a destabilizing effect on the team. If the team plans to stay competitive, they will need to resolve this issue quickly. As David Samson highlighted, “a team can not afford to have its star player at odds with management; it is a recipe for disaster.”

Now, the team’s capability to track such issues will determine whether they can manage their championship hopes and see their season works out. The question remains: Can the Braves regroup and rise above such setbacks?

The Braves’ path forward

While the Braves have clawed back into relevance after a disastrous 0–7 beginning, they are still fighting deeper issues that could derail their 2025 campaign and the issue is the gaping hole in the rotation, one that can not be easily patched.

Strider’s absence does not just affect the numbers; it shakes the very structure of the team’s pitching approach. Yet in such a setback lies an opportunity—a call for internal reshuffling. At the center of this transitional period is Marcell Ozuna. He has been nothing short of electric at the plate this season, hitting over .300 and anchoring the offense at a period when consistency is in short supply.

Ironically, the star’s red-hot form also makes him a viable trade resource. If the team begins to skid once again, Ozuna could command powerful value on the market, specifically from teams in need of a power bat with postseason pedigree. With his contract expiring and the team already carrying large financial commitments, moving the star could help the team manage long-period needs, specifically on the mound.

However, the decision will not be easy. It will need a careful balance between quick competitiveness and future sustainability. Does the team leverage Ozuna’s value to fortify areas now left exposed by injury and inconsistency?

It is in moments like such that a team’s true power takes shape. Whether the team rises and recalibrates, their reaction in the coming weeks will be a defining chapter in their 2025 journey.