Today's Three Things: Braves can't score runs without homers in loss to Baltimore

The Atlanta Braves have not scored a non-homer run since Saturday

The Atlanta Braves were unable to get a big hit late, dropping their series opener against the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 in Truist Park on Friday night.

Here’s Today’s Three Things from the contest.

The Turning Point

Believe it or not, I knew Atlanta was in trouble in the second inning.

The Braves started the frame off by getting two runners on base - Marcell Ozuna walked and Drake Baldwin was hit by a Charlie Morton curveball on the foot. Prime position to score some runs, right?

About that.

Ozzie Albies and Nick Allen both struck out, sandwiching a Michael Harris pop-up where he somehow get underneath a sinker in the bottom of the zone.

As is typical of the 2025 Atlanta Braves, Baltimore turned around and got a solo shot in the top of the third to get on the board…and then, just for good measure, the Braves wasted another opportunity.

Ronald Acuña Jr. led off the bottom half of the inning with a single and advanced to third on Austin Riley’s double to left. But after that, Jurickson Profar struck out and Marcell Ozuna flew out to right, stranding two runners for the second consecutive inning.

Atlanta did not get another at-bat with a runner in scoring position in the game, finishing 0-5 in that department.

Today’s Player of the Game

With proper deference to Riley’s mini heater he’s on in July, give me Spencer Strider.

The righty wasn’t perfect, allowing homers to both Jordan Westburg and Cedric Mullins, but for a Braves team that is reeling after losing Spencer Schwellenbach and Chris Sale in the last few weeks to (expected) multi-month absences, his quality start was comforting. He pitched six full innings, allowing seven hits while walking just one. While the strikeout total was a bit disappointing, a relatively pedestrian six for a pitcher that’s known for punchouts, it wasn’t for a lack of stuff, with Strider finishing with 21 whiffs (14 on the slider) and a 34% CSW.

What You’ll Be Talking About

Marcell Ozuna.

The Big Bear drew a walk tonight, his fourth of the past three games, but again did not collect a hit and couldn’t deliver in some crucial spots. After a hot start, including briefly leading the league in walks, Ozuna’s hit just .177/.269/.265 over his last 30 games and has scored just nine runs in that stretch, hitting two homers.

That wouldn’t be as frustrating were it not for the fact that Atlanta actually has a backup plan here that could work - playing Drake Baldwin at designated hitter while Sean Murphy starts behind the plate. Baldwin hit a two-run homer tonight and Murphy has three in the last week, including a grand slam on Saturday. Why not give Ozuna a rest day and get both backstops in the same lineup?

Looking for more discussion about this game?

Here’s tonight’s Postcast, where I went live to break down the loss.

What’s Next for the Braves?

Atlanta’s declining to call someone up for Saturday and instead going with a bullpen game. Lefty Aaron Bummer (1-1, 2.86) will get the ball first for Atlanta opposite righty Dean Kremer (7-7, 4.27) at 4:10 PM ET.