The Atlanta Braves no longer have the comfortable cushion they once enjoyed atop the National League East, as the division race has tightened considerably heading into the All-Star break.
Entering Monday, the Philadelphia Phillies had erased much of the deficit created by their disastrous 9-19 start and now sit just two games behind Atlanta. The Miami Marlins have also surged back into contention following an impressive June, leaving them only four games out of first place. With pressure mounting from both rivals, the Braves could be forced to make difficult roster decisions in the second half of the season.
One player who has emerged as a potential candidate to be moved or released is designated hitter and outfielder Dominic Smith. FanSided’s Christopher Kline believes Atlanta may have reached the point where it needs to reconsider Smith’s role on the roster.
“Smith is borderline unplayable in the field, especially with almost every first base dedicated to Matt Olson. He’s there to swing the bat, and right now, he’s doing so in a counterproductive way,” Kline wrote. “The Braves probably need to bite the bullet on the idea of Smith as a late-career breakout.”
Smith initially looked like a valuable addition after joining Atlanta. He enjoyed a productive April, batting .339, and continued that momentum into May by hitting .310, providing the Braves with consistent offense while several regulars battled injuries.
However, that production has disappeared over the past several weeks.
His offensive numbers took a dramatic downturn in June, when he posted just a .508 OPS while hitting only one home run. The struggles have continued into July, with his bat showing little sign of rebounding at a time when Atlanta desperately needs more production throughout the lineup.
Kline pointed out that injuries have largely kept Smith in the designated hitter role despite his declining offensive output.
“Injuries have kept Smith locked in the DH spot, as Atlanta needs every functional right-handed bat it can get,” Kline added. “However, he has a .490 OPS since the calendar flipped to June.”
With Smith’s production continuing to decline, Atlanta’s lineup has become increasingly vulnerable. His offensive struggles, coupled with the lack of production from shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, have left the Braves with two lineup spots providing little consistent offense.
As Atlanta prepares for the second half of the season and a tightening division race, the front office could be forced to make difficult decisions in an effort to reignite the offense. If Smith’s struggles continue after the All-Star break, his future with the Braves could quickly come into question, making him one of the most likely candidates for a roster shakeup as the club searches for answers.