A whopping 7 1/2 games out of first place and a season-high five games below .500. After a run of National League East titles and 90-win seasons, simply put, the Atlanta Braves are in a bad way.
The franchise hasn’t been this far back in a season in which it made the postseason since 1914, and since moving to Atlanta, have never been further back than six games (1993) in a playoff year.
Trying to make sense out of what’s changed (beyond just blaming the bullpen) will make your head hurt. Much of the focus — and manager Brian Snitker’s ire — after Wednesday’s 10-8 loss to the Red Sox, though, centered on Ronald Acuña Jr.