Braves frustrating offensive woes continue

At this point, it almost feels unexplainable.

Yes, the Braves have more flaws than in years past. Nick Allen is an offensive zero. The situation in left field is hardly better. Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II haven’t come close to meeting expectations. But even with all of that, it still doesn’t make sense that this offense — with Ronald Acuña Jr. playing at an MVP level — is struggling to score runs at such a staggering rate.

Acuña once again did his part Tuesday night in Milwaukee, collecting three hits and driving in a run. The rest of the lineup? Just five hits — no RBIs — as the Braves dropped another game, this time 4-1 to the Brewers. Atlanta has now won just five of its last 21 games, a brutal stretch that includes 12 games in which they’ve scored four runs or fewer. They’ve lost every single one of those contests.

As a team, the Braves now rank 21st in runs scored, and somehow, it feels worse than that. Every few days, this group teases a return to form, erupting for seven or eight runs and flashing the firepower of the record-setting 2023 offense. But it never lasts. Over the next three games, they’ll combine for seven runs total and look utterly lifeless at the plate. The inconsistency has been baffling.

Braves fans have spent the last 30 years conditioned to believe things will eventually turn around. This is, after all, largely the same core that shattered offensive records less than two seasons ago. It feels impossible that this can continue much longer. But with each passing game, the hole they’re in gets deeper — and the creeping realization grows stronger that maybe this isn’t a slump.

Maybe this is just who the Braves are now.

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