Braves Get Strong Prediction for 2026 MLB Season

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Chris Sale winds up for a pitch against the Diamondbacks.

The Atlanta Braves had a 2025 season that they hope to quickly forget as an organization. After making the playoffs seven consecutive seasons from 2017-2024, Atlanta fell flat on its face this season and underperformed to those postseason standards. They entered the season as the second favorite to win the World Series, but their season was essentially over before it started when Atlanta started the season 0-7.

No team that has started 0-7 has ever made the MLB playoffs, and that remains true after this season. Headed into the offseason and winter months, the Braves will have some major decisions to make, and it starts at the top of the clubhouse. It was announced today that Brian Snitker will not be the Braves manager next season and will serve in a senior advisor role.

Braves Predicted to Bounce Back with 2026 Postseason Berth

Some of the other major decisions the Braves will have to make include what to do with Marcell Ozuna, who is set to hit free agency, what core players to hold onto when trade rumors start to swirl, and which players the front office will opt to sign to help improve the roster. Ronald Acuña Jr. missed a healthy amount of time in 2025, and the expectation if he’s in the lineup every day, along with Austin Riley, Atlanta should have a much more competitive team.

In a recent predictions piece by Bleacher Report, the Braves were placed in the “They’ll be back: 2026 or Bust” category.

The Braves are up against some difficult decisions this winter, including whether any of their core stars should be dangled in trades. To this end, they should probably try to cash in Chris Sale and see if anyone is willing to take on Ozzie Albies. Yet after going 30-24 in August and September, it seems unlikely a full-on teardown is in order. The Braves can pin their hopes for a 2026 comeback on better health and more productive hitters, with Ronald Acuña Jr. and Austin Riley offering legitimate upside in this respect.

Atlanta had a really final two months of the season to make their record look a lot more respectable, but Atlanta was out of the postseason race in early July. They finished 76-86.

What Help Do the Braves Need?

The good thing for the Braves is they don’t need any “needle-mover” players. Matt Olson just finished his season as one of the hottest hitters in baseball, Chris Sale is a certified ace, and Atlanta has a good cast of role players as well.

Some of the team’s biggest needs going into this 2026 free agency are bullpen help, depth starting pitching, and farm system help.

While the names at the top of the Braves roster are players to be feared, the ones at the bottom are not. Atlanta’s farm system ranked 28th in baseball, and the team’s starting rotation had run so thin throughout the season that they were forced to basically pick up any available starter just to get through the season. A cherry on top would be adding Bo Bichette from the Blue Jays to solidify the shortstop position.

The Braves have a lot to do this offseason, but unless things hit the fan again next season, expect them to be much more competitive.