BIG ISSUE: We have 5 guys hitting .300+ but it’s not the guys you would normally think like Austin Riley, Matt Olson, and…..

We have 5 guys hitting .300+ but it’s not the guys you would normally think like Austin Riley, Matt Olson, and Ronald Acuna Jr. It shows you how deep and how potent our lineup is!

Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson, Austin Riley among Braves who play every game — and love it

Jul 30, 2023; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson (28) reacts with right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) after hitting a three run home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the third inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

ATLANTA — On many or most major-league teams in this era, Sunday’s game against Milwaukee — a hot and humid afternoon, the finale of a series already won against a non-division opponent — might have been a time for a lineup regular or two to have a day off.

But the Braves and manager Brian Snitker aren’t like most teams when it comes to off days. And Atlanta players say they like it that way.

Four Braves — right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. and infielders Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson and Austin Riley — are among only 11 major leaguers who’ve played in every one of their team’s games this season. Seattle, with two, is the only other team with multiple players who haven’t missed a game.

“I’ve always kind of looked at it as, it’s part of the job and you try to play 162 every year, and we definitely do that here,” said Olson, who had two home runs and five RBIs in Sunday’s sweep-completing 8-6 win against the Brewers, raising his National League-leading homer total to 35 and majors-leading RBI total to 88.

In Olson’s view, which mirrors that of his Atlanta first-base predecessor, Freddie Freeman, it’s not that complicated.

“You get paid to play, and you do what you can to go out and help the team win every day,” said Olson, who’s on pace for 138 RBIs and 55 home runs, which would surpass Andruw Jones’ franchise-record 51 homers in 2005. “You can’t do it from the bench.”

He added, “We (have guys who play every game) more so than a lot of teams in the league. You’re supposed to prepare yourself in the offseason and stay strong and get yourself ready during the season, to do that. As long as you’re feeling good and healthy, strong, there’s no reason to not run out there every day.”

Riley’s two-run homer in the first inning was his eighth in 11 games, Marcell Ozuna hit a game-tying solo shot in the sixth inning, and Olson’s second homer of the day was a game-winning two-run drive in the eighth.

Told what Olson said about expecting to play every day, Snitker said, “I know, he’s another one of those guys that (thinks) not playing is not an option. He signed a contract to play the games, and thank God for that.”

Riley and Ozuna each had recent slumps and were never removed from the lineup by Snitker, who believes in letting his guys hit their way out of slumps in all but the most severe cases. Riley was 7-for-52 (.167) with one homer and 16 strikeouts in a 10-game stretch through July 16, then had two homers and seven RBIs in the next game to begin a tear that’s continued unabated.

Austin Riley celebrates with Ozzie Albies after hitting a home run in Milwaukee on July 22. (Benny Sieu / USA Today)

“Yeah, there’s something to it,” Riley said of playing every day. “The way you get out of it when you’re struggling is just more at-bats. The way you start to figure yourself out even more and learn the game and more about yourself, I think, is just the more at-bats you can get, the better it’s gonna be. I know it’s helped me in my career, being out there every day. Because in ’19 (as a rookie), I would play against lefties and come off the bench — kudos to the guys who do that, like (Kevin) Pillar and Charlie (Culberson). That’s a tough role. I’m fortunate enough to be on a team where I do get to play every day.”

Ozuna was an anemic 4-for-49 (.082) with one homer and 19 strikeouts in 14 games through Wednesday at Boston, but Snitker stuck with him as his DH. In the series against Milwaukee, he was 6-for-11 with four homers, six RBIs and two strikeouts.

“When you have that kind of person like Snitker, the guy always believes in the player,” Ozuna said. “That’s the kind of guy that gives you confidence all the time, and you come in with the energy, ready to give your best to him. I’m happy to be part of the Atlanta Braves and I feel happy to play for him.”

Acuña, who ignites an offense that’s on pace to shatter franchise and league first-inning scoring records, had multiple hits each game in the series, going 7-for-11 with a homer, five runs, three walks, three RBIs and three stolen bases.

After the first inning, Acuña often ends up batting behind arguably the most potent bottom-of-the-order trio in baseball — Eddie Rosario, Orlando Arcia and Michael Harris II, another who plays every day he’s healthy. Harris has hit .375 with four doubles and a triple during a 12-game hitting streak that’s the longest active in the majors.

Olson could become the first Brave to lead the NL in RBIs since Jones had 128 in the same season that he set the franchise homer record. Olson said he benefits in a major way from batting in the middle of this lineup.

“I mean, there’s always dudes on base,” he said, “whether it’s Mike or Arcia on the back end wrapping around, or Ronnie or Ozzie or Riley. I feel like I’m rarely taking an at-bat with the bases empty, which is a good feeling.”

Those four Braves who’ve played every game — Acuña, Albies, Olson and Riley — are the team’s first through fourth hitters, respectively, and were a combined 6-for-15 Sunday with a double, three homers, seven runs and seven RBIs. All four also played in the All-Star Game, along with catcher Sean Murphy and shortstop Arcia, who has started every game before and after a 19-game absence for a fractured left wrist.

“The way the game has kind of changed, you see the flips in lineups depending on lefty-righty matchups,” Riley said of the typical arrangement for many teams. “But Snit runs us out there every day. And I think it is a pride thing (with Braves players): ‘Hey, we’re in there every day, and expect it.’ And I think it just kind of keeps you in rhythm.

“But I definitely think it’s a pride thing — we want to play every day. Because like I said, most teams don’t do it anymore. So it’s nice to be in that category.”

Snitker used his regular lineup Sunday, which includes eight spots in which the Braves play the same guy virtually every day. The only exception is catcher, where Murphy starts about two out of every three games and Travis d’Arnaud starts the others. When one of them has been hurt, the other has played all or most games during the absence.

If Snitker did it the way so many other managers do, he might’ve given Olson, Ozuna or Riley each at least a day or two off when they endured an extended slump this season. He also might’ve rested one of those big sluggers on a steamy Sunday, with the Brewers series in hand and a three-game series on deck against the Angels starting Monday.

But they played, and the four homers from Olson, Riley and Ozuna accounted for all of the runs in the Braves’ majors-leading 67th win. They have MLB’s best record and by far its biggest division lead — 11 1/2 games up on Miami and 12 games ahead of third-place Philadelphia.

“I’ve been in lineups at Oakland where there’s a ton of turnover, matchups and platoon guys and all,” Olson said. “I really like that most days we’re running out the same lineup. We know who’s going to be out there, that everybody’s doing what they can to be ready to go. Game starts, strap it on and go play.”

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