The Atlanta Braves have made a significant lineup decision involving Ozzie Albies ahead of Saturday’s matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers, giving the veteran infielder a different role as Atlanta looks to even the series.
Albies will serve as the designated hitter and bat fifth against Milwaukee, marking just the second time in his career that he has been used as a DH. Mauricio Dubón will take over at second base, allowing Albies to remain in the lineup while getting a break from his defensive responsibilities.
The move comes at a crucial point for Atlanta. The Braves entered Saturday having lost six of their previous eight games, while Milwaukee came into the contest with an MLB-best 80-49 record. The Brewers also opened the series by defeating Atlanta 2-1 on Friday behind six shutout innings from Jacob Misiorowski.
Albies Gets A Different Role
Rather than starting at his usual second-base position, Albies will focus entirely on his offensive responsibilities. He is hitting fifth behind Drake Baldwin, Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson and Michael Harris II.
The decision comes amid a difficult stretch for Albies, who has struggled offensively for an extended period. According to Battery Power, he has posted a 73 wRC+ since early May, making Saturday’s opportunity particularly important as Atlanta searches for more production from its lineup.
Albies still brings considerable power to the Braves’ lineup. He entered the game with 20 home runs and 65 RBIs this season, numbers that underline why Atlanta continues to look for ways to keep his bat involved.
Braves Looking To Respond
Atlanta has little margin for error against Milwaukee. The Brewers have won five of their last six games and have established themselves as one of baseball’s strongest teams, while the Braves are trying to regain momentum after a difficult stretch.
Friday’s 2-1 loss was particularly frustrating because Chris Sale pitched six strong innings, but Milwaukee’s pitching and timely hitting proved enough to secure the victory. William Contreras went 4-for-4 and drove in one of the Brewers’ runs, while Milwaukee’s bullpen protected the narrow advantage.
Atlanta will send Martín Pérez to the mound Saturday, while Milwaukee counters with rookie right-hander Logan Henderson. Pérez enters with an 8-7 record and a 3.15 ERA, while Henderson is 7-2 with a 2.70 ERA.
For Albies, the change provides an opportunity to concentrate solely on his offense and potentially rediscover his rhythm at the plate.
With the Braves facing the best team in baseball, Atlanta will hope the decision pays immediate dividends. A productive game from Albies could give the Braves the offensive boost they need to avoid falling further behind in the series.
The message from Atlanta is clear: Albies remains a key part of the lineup, but the Braves are changing how they use him in an effort to get more out of his bat when it matters most.
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