Braves’ Brian Snitker feeling the heat as managerial carousel spins faster

In just days, MLB clubs in Colorado and Pittsburgh cut ties with long-tenured managers. Bud Black is out. Derek Shelton, gone. Brandon Hyde’s name keeps surfacing in Baltimore. And now? Eyes are turning south to Atlanta.

On paper, the Braves shouldn’t be in crisis mode. This team still features Marcell Ozuna, Matt Olson, Michael Harris II, Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies. They’re nearing full health and just a few games under .500, but in a season where expectations haven’t been met, manager Brian Snitker is suddenly part of a league-wide hot-seat conversation — and for the first time in his 10-year tenure, it doesn’t seem far-fetched.

The Braves sat at 19-21 on Monday, third in the loaded National League East. For a team with this much talent — and one that won 104 games in 2023 — that’s not just disappointing, it’s alarming. Their .475 win percentage has them behind the Phillies and Mets, and their overall performance has felt middling at best.

Atlanta ranks 15th in MLB in OPS (.690), and while their pitching staff has a respectable 1.25 WHIP (tied for 14th), it hasn’t been enough to string wins together consistently. A Friday night loss to the Pirates, where a pitch-clock violation botched a late-game substitution and led to a critical strikeout, didn’t help Snitker’s optics.

The scrutiny isn’t just about results — it’s also about how Snitker has handled adversity. The incident involving Jarred Kelenic and Ronald Acuña Jr. earlier this season raised eyebrows, with questions about how the manager managed clubhouse tensions. Kelenic is now in Triple-A, but the episode left a mark.

More recently, Snitker’s interaction with Acuña sparked concerns about strained relationships behind closed doors despite the star outfielder still working back from injury. Add an underachieving first half from stars like Albies and Michael Harris II, and the perception of a disconnect grows.

Snitker is no rookie. He’s managed the Braves since 2016 and spent nearly 50 years in the organization. He led Atlanta to seven straight postseason appearances and a World Series title in 2021. His record as manager — 753-602 — is impressive. But resumes only go so far when momentum shifts, and in 2025, Atlanta hasn’t looked like a contender.

Bleacher Report listed Snitker as No. 2 on its recent ranking of managers most at risk of being let go. While the article notes that firing him would be “doing him dirty,” the inclusion speaks volumes. Even if a midseason firing feels unlikely, there’s growing speculation that this could be Snitker’s final year unless the Braves turn things around — and fast.

This weekend’s series in Pittsburgh wasn’t just a matchup against a struggling NL opponent — it was a spotlight moment. The Pirates had just fired their manager. The Braves lost two of three, including a game decided by a mental lapse. Symbolically and practically, it raised red flags.

And as teams like the Rockies and Pirates act swiftly to reset their futures, the Braves stare down their decision point. Snitker’s contract ends after this season. If the team doesn’t surge back into contention, Atlanta’s front office may decide the window needs a new voice to lead it.

The good news for Snitker? Help may be on the way. Both Spencer Strider and Acuña are expected back within the month. A healthy lineup could ignite a run and quiet the chatter.

But MLB is a results-driven business. And with the league’s managerial landscape shifting fast, even a World Series ring won’t protect you forever. If the Braves want a different result in October, they may need a distinct voice in the dugout by then.