One-run games have been the difference for the Atlanta Braves

Since sweeping the Mets on June 19, the Braves have now lost 11 of 14 games after falling to the Athletics in extra innings last night, marking yet another one-run loss.

Spencer Strider got rocked in the 1st inning, surrendering a three-run home run, but he settled in nicely, making it through 6.2 innings without giving up any more damage.

Even after a home run barrage on Wednesday, it felt like a three-run deficit was the fat lady singing, but the offense picked Strider up behind a 4th inning where Austin Riley and Sean Murphy doubled, followed by a Jurickson Profar home run to tie the game.

Ozzie Albies would go on to hit a home run in the 7th inning for what feels like his first homer in months, but it wasn’t enough. Dylan Lee gave up a solo home run in the following inning to tie the ball game, a place the Braves are all too familiar with.

Once in extra innings, Aaron Bummer shouldered the loss after a walk-off single. It was another crushing one-run defeat for a Braves club that has lived on the margins, and it’s bitten them in the ass.

The club is now 11-23 in one-run games this year. It’s the second-worst record in baseball, ahead of only the White Sox. It’s defined the Braves’ season. It’s been mostly the offense failing to get situational hits, just like last night.

In the 10th inning, with Eli White on second base, Michael Harris II and Ozzie Albies struck out swinging. They couldn’t even move the base runner over with a sac fly.

The Braves just haven’t been clutch. They have pissed down their pants in the biggest moments of every game. In those 34 one-run games, if you flipped the result of those games, the Braves would be 1.5 games out of the NL East with a 52-40 record.

Even switching the results of half of those games would dramatically change where the Braves sit right now. The bullpen isn’t free of blame either, though. It’s been mostly good, but there was a stretch where they were regularly blowing games as well.

It’s a flawed roster with underperforming stars. This is a lost season. It’s time to look forward to 2026.