Marcell Ozuna, Atlanta’s designated hitter, is going through a hard spell offensively at a time when the team most needs him.
Marcell Ozuna hasn’t driven in a run for the Atlanta Braves since August 27. Yes, you read it right. We would not lie to you. Even if one of the league’s worst decision-makers (especially off the field) is fourth in the National League in RBI, this is not the time for such performance.
One of MLB’s most prolific power hitters is in the midst of a slugging slump, and the Braves are only one game behind the New York Mets for the NL’s last playoff position.
25 games and no home runs. Over the last four seasons, this player has ranked second on the Braves in that category (125).
Atlanta’s collective electricity production over the last 18 days has been remarkably low. During this time, the Braves rank 27th in the MLB in terms of home runs. Even more surprising, they have been outperformed in the long ball department by the Chicago White Sox, who have lost 115 games overall.
The Braves desperately need Marcell Ozuna to edge the Mets in the NL Wild Card race
Going into Tuesday night’s game against the Cincinnati Reds in Ohio, Ozuna is slashing.Since August 28, he has been hitting 250/.351/.281 with no home runs or RBI. During that time, the 33-year-old has -0.1 fWAR and a 22.7 percent strikeout rate.
His numbers throughout the entire campaign stand out. The three-time All-Star has a.302 batting average and a.928 OPS, his best season at the plate (excluding the epidemic 2020) since 2017, when he played for the Miami Marlins.
After finishing their three-game series with the Reds, Brian Snitker’s team meets the Marlins, followed by games against two postseason contenders: the Mets and Bobby Witt Jr.’s Kansas City Royals.
If Ozuna’s power decline continues, the Braves will struggle to edge the Mets in this back-and-forth competition. With only four more home runs, he’d set a new single-season career best. The good news for Atlanta is that its next two opponents rank in the bottom 10 of MLB’s home runs permitted per nine innings, according to FanGraphs.
If Ozuna wants to recapture his momentum, there is no better opportunity than now. The Braves rely on him to push runs home. While he’s getting on base, his slugging percentage of.281 over the last 18 days (compared to the league average of.400) is insufficient, especially as the pressure builds. This weak power production will not suffice, especially given the growing importance of each game.