Saturday night was a perfect microcosm to the Braves lost season

The Braves are the toxic ex you just can’t quit.

The highs over the last seven years have been so euphoric that you find yourself constantly excusing the lows, even when they’re this bad. All it takes is the smallest glimmer of hope to reel you back in, and it felt like Braves Country started believing again about halfway through Saturday night.

Joey Wentz pitched admirably as an opener on the mound in his first start for the Braves, tossing four scoreless innings and setting the stage for what looked like a comfortable 7-2 lead. But this wasn’t just any 7-2 lead, it was one built by Atlanta’s two slumping stars.

Michael Harris II got the scoring started with a home run, and Ozzie Albies drove in five more after four RBIs on Thursday night, thanks to his second home run in as many games. Those developments were far more important than whatever the scoreboard read at the moment. But just when things begin to look promising, the Braves can’t help but embarrass themselves in the most excruciating fashion.

Saturday night was the perfect example of that, as Atlanta’s bullpen would go on to surrender nine earned runs over the last four innings of play, capped off by a grand slam from Trent Grisham with two outs in the ninth.

It was the perfect microcosm of a lost season. This team is full of chokers. If the Braves have needed a hit in a big spot — even with the heart of the order at the plate — nobody has been able to deliver late in games. And when the bullpen holds a lead? Few have been worse. Raisel Iglesias, once a rock in the ninth, now owns a 5.12 ERA as the team’s closer.

The first 13 innings of the second half had some dreaming of a magical second half run, but yesterday was a reminder that there is no miracle around the corner. Every aspect of the Braves is a walking red flag.

The bullpen is not reliable, the starting staff has more guys injured than healthy, and the lineup has yet to put together a consistent stretch of play for longer than a week. All of that is not going to magically come together in a way that the Braves can make up a 10-game deficit in the Wild Card race.

The final two months should be about one thing and one thing only: 2026 and beyond.