The Atlanta Braves open a four-game series Friday night against the Philadelphia Phillies with a notable change to their batting order.
The two clubs sit at the top of the National League East. Philadelphia trails Atlanta by four games. A series win for either side would carry major implications for the division race and for seeding in the National League playoffs.
Friday’s matchup features a pair of left-handed starters. Chris Sale is slated to pitch for the Braves. Cristopher Sanchez is expected to take the mound for the Phillies.
Braves manager Walt Weiss adjusted his lineup before the series opener. The most visible shift involves first baseman Matt Olson.
Olson has been Atlanta’s most productive hitter this season. He has spent most of the year batting third, typically behind Ronald Acuna Jr. and Drake Baldwin.
Weiss moved Olson into the cleanup spot for Friday’s game. Second baseman Ozzie Albies will bat third instead.
Olson has hit in the No. 4 position only 23 times this season. He has occupied the third spot in 115 other games.
The full Braves lineup, as posted by Underdog MLB, reads: “Braves 9/4 R. Acuña Jr. RF D. Baldwin DH O. Albies 2B M. Olson 1B L. Thomas LF M. Dubón CF S. Murphy C A. Riley 3B H. Kim SS C. Sale SP.”
Acuna will lead off and play right field. Baldwin is the designated hitter. Albies is at second base. Olson remains at first. Lane Thomas is in left field. Mauricio Dubon is in center. Sean Murphy is behind the plate. Austin Riley is at third. Ha-Seong Kim is at shortstop.
The change comes as Olson continues one of the stronger seasons of his career. This is his 11th year in the major leagues and his fifth with Atlanta.
He is batting .254 in 140 games and 544 at-bats. He has scored 94 runs, collected 138 hits, hit 37 home runs and driven in 80 runs.Olson is slugging .518 with an .847 OPS. He also leads the majors with 33 doubles.
Weiss has mixed his order at times this year, but Olson’s usual place has been the three-hole. Friday’s move places more protection behind Albies and puts Olson in a traditional power spot.
The Braves enter the series looking to add to their division lead at home. The Phillies arrive needing to close the gap before the stretch run.
Sale will try to keep Atlanta’s recent momentum going. Sanchez will attempt to slow down a Braves lineup that has produced consistently against left-handed pitching.
Olson’s power numbers have been a constant for Atlanta. Moving him down one spot is a small tactical adjustment rather than a reflection of his production.
The four-game set is expected to draw strong crowds at Truist Park. Both clubs have been among the National League’s most consistent teams this season.
How the new order performs against Sanchez will be one of the first storylines of the weekend. Weiss will have three more games after Friday to decide whether the change stays in place.
