Why are the Atlanta Braves’ two catchers in what is effectively a platoon? Why does Marcell Ozuna basically get to start every day with no cheap extension announced? Why is Ozzie Albies hitting cleanup? Why did Sean Murphy hit below Nacho Alvarez Jr., only to now hit above him? All this and more… won’t be answered tonight, or ever.
Albies has hit cleanup once this season — an 11-6 win over the Mets a couple of weeks ago. Sean Murphy hit fifth in that game, which… yeah I don’t really know how to talk about lineups in a sensible way anymore. Suffice to say, this is a new lineup. Whoo. Whee? Whoo.
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Collectively, this lineup is really familiar with Ranger Suarez, as everyone but Nacho Alvarez Jr. has faced him at least once, and everyone else but Nick Allen has double-digit PAs against him. Albies and Murphy have hit Suarez unequivocally well, everyone else really hasn’t or is a mixed bag in terms of inputs and outputs. All in all, we’re talking about 180 PAs with a .299 wOBA and .306 xwOBA, which is decidedly meh.
While the configuration the Phillies will deploy doesn’t seem all that pertinent given that the Braves are sending 2025 Braves!Bryce Elder to his recurring doom in this one, they are nonetheless doing this:
The Braves are familiar with all of these guys, though decidedly less so with Rafael Marchan, who is starting over J.T. Realmuto. Brandon Marsh rarely hits fifth, but given Elder’s struggles against lefties, it makes some sense. This is a novel lineup for Philadelphia, who will have used 72 different batting orders in 135 games when this one begins.
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The Phillies are nowhere near as familiar with Elder as the Braves are with Suarez, with only Trea Turner having double-digit PAs against the sinkerballer. In said small samples, though, everyone but Kyle Schwarber and Bryson Stott has absolutely demolished him (Bryson Stott has bad outputs but good inputs). Collectively, it’s a .472 wOBA and .460 xwOBA in 64 PAs, so good luck, have fun, and re-queue tomorrow or whatever.