Atlanta Braves suffer worst start in years amid offensive struggles

In the United States, the Atlanta Braves have experienced their worst start to a baseball season in years, beginning the 2025 campaign with an 0-7 record, which is their longest winless start since 2016. The team's poor performance has become a subject of concern as they approach their home opener against the Miami Marlins. Despite boasting a roster filled with talent, including key players Ronald Acuña Jr., Spencer Strider, and Sean Murphy currently sidelined due to injury, the team has struggled significantly with their offense, leading to unfavorable outcomes in their initial games. During their road trip to the West Coast, the Braves were swept in a four-game series against the San Diego Padres and subsequently lost three straight games to the Los Angeles Dodgers. In these early matchups, their batting averaged a dismal .151, placing them at the bottom of the league, while only managing to score 14 runs—an average of just two runs per game. Manager Brian Snitker expressed his desperation for a breakthrough in performance, particularly after a noteworthy game where they relinquished a 5-0 lead and ultimately lost 6-5 against the Los Angeles Angels due to a late ninth-inning homer by Shohei Ohtani. The various performances of key hitters such as Matt Olson, Austin Riley, and rookie Drake Baldwin have come under scrutiny. Despite their batting struggles, which included a troubling combined 6 for 58 at the plate, the players demonstrated promising qualities in their batted ball profiles. Olson recorded an impressive exit velocity, while Baldwin faced challenges typical for a rookie in the major leagues. Although there are indications that these players are destined for stronger performances as the season progresses, their early games simply reflected a lack of scoring. The impact of injuries on the team’s performance has been particularly evident, with two players on the injured list affecting lineup stability. Snitker's decision to shuffle the batting order in search of a spark has not yet yielded the desired results, leaving the Braves and their supporters anxious for a change in fortunes. The pressure is mounting as they prepare for their home opener, with all eyes on them to see if they can finally achieve their first victory of the season, or face even further scrutiny as the season unfolds.