The Atlanta Braves are entering their third full week of the 2025 MLB season without much success to show for their efforts. The Braves are firmly sitting at the bottom of the NL East with a 4-11 record after losing this weekend's Tampa Bay Rays series, leaving time to tell if manager Brian Snitker can eventually pull his players out of this funk.
While the Braves must improve in several areas to turn their season around, getting the offense back on track would be a good start. Atlanta is only averaging 3.27 runs (26th) and a .361 slugging percentage (21st) to begin the year, so it wouldn't be surprising if Snitker made a lineup change to shake things up soon.
If the Braves are considering promoting someone from the minors, a certain veteran slugger deserves to be at the front of the line.
Braves Must Promote Alex Verdugo Amid Jarred Kelenic's Struggles
One veteran who Braves fans are ready to send packing is Jarred Kelenic. The veteran outfielder's bat has been one of the worst in Snitker's lineup this season and is in dire need of a replacement.
After slashing .231/.286/.393 across 412 at-bats last season, Kelenic is slashing a putrid .162/.262/270 through his first 37 ABs in 2025. He's also struck out 16 times during that stretch and his 38.1% strikeout rate is a new career-worst performance. If nothing changes, he'll be on pace for 178 strikeouts which would surpass last year's total of 133.
With Kelenic showing zero signs of turning things around, it'd be in the Braves' best interest to replace the struggling outfielder with Alex Verdugo. The former 2014 second-rounder started the year in Triple-A to get back into shape after missing spring training, leaving him to wait for his next MLB opportunity.
It's a small sample size, but Verdugo's minor-league showing has impressed Braves fans. His .182 batting average through 22 ABs with Triple-A Gwinnett might not be much to write home about, however, his two home runs on four hits and .500 SLG show that he's the type of player Atlanta needs to give its lineup an offensive boost.
VERDUGO MONSTER MASH.
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) April 13, 2025
Alex Verdugo drives in three on his second @SoFi home run of the season to give us the 6-1 lead in the second! pic.twitter.com/1eE5sY9zUQ
Even if he isn't the most consistent player, Verdugo is still a proven batter with 50 HRs, 252 RBIs, 187 walks, and a .266/.323/.402 slash line in 589 outings with the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees since the start of the 2021 season. If he can continue playing at that level, Verdugo would easily be an upgrade over Kelenic in the outfield.
With the Braves beginning a road series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday, there's never been a better time to promote Verdugo. He's played well against the AL East franchise throughout his career, generating eight HRs, 25 RBIs, and a .255/.290/.402 slash line in 69 career all-time matchups (259 ABs) against the Blue Jays.
Speaking of which, the Braves are currently FanDuel Sportsbook's -116 moneyline favorite to defeat the Blue Jays in Monday evening's series-opening contest.
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