Four Braves Veterans Under the Most Pressure Entering the 2026 Season

As the Atlanta Braves look ahead to the 2026 season, one uncomfortable truth looms over spring training: the margin for error is shrinking. A major reason for last year’s disappointment was not a lack of talent, but the failure of highly paid veterans to meet reasonable expectations. These were not lofty projections—just the baseline production Atlanta had come to rely on.

Instead, injuries and inconsistency plagued the roster throughout 2025. The rotation was rarely whole, key bats disappeared at critical moments, and the Braves never found sustained momentum. With a talented but aging core, several veteran players now enter 2026 under real pressure to deliver—before time and circumstance catch up.

Here are four Braves veterans facing the most scrutiny this season.

1. Austin Riley, 3B

Austin Riley’s importance to Atlanta’s lineup cannot be overstated—and neither can his recent injury concerns.

After breaking his hand late in the 2024 season, Riley followed that up with a core injury in 2025 that required season-ending surgery. Losing their All-Star third baseman in back-to-back seasons, particularly during playoff pushes, has severely limited the Braves’ offensive ceiling.

When healthy, Riley transforms Atlanta’s lineup. Batting behind Matt Olson and Ronald Acuña Jr., he provides critical protection and power in the heart of the order. Without him, the Braves resemble a fringe contender rather than a true World Series threat.

Despite limited availability, Riley still showed his value in 2025, slashing .260/.309/.428 with 16 home runs and 54 RBIs in just 416 at-bats. The production is still there—the question is durability. If Riley misses time again, it cannot come in the season’s most meaningful moments. Atlanta needs him on the field, not on the injury report.

2. Sean Murphy, C/DH

Sean Murphy was supposed to be Atlanta’s long-term answer behind the plate. In 2023, he hit .251 with solid power and elite defense, appearing to justify that belief. Since then, however, his offensive production has fallen off a cliff.

Murphy has failed to hit above the Mendoza Line in each of the past two seasons, turning what was once a strength into a liability. The emergence of Drake Baldwin, the reigning NL Rookie of the Year, has only intensified the pressure.

Still, Murphy remains part of Atlanta’s plans. With Murphy, Baldwin, and Mike Yastrzemski rotating through catcher and designated hitter roles, the Braves don’t need Murphy to be a star—they just need him to be competent. A return to his career average (.228) with reliable power would stabilize the bottom of the lineup and eliminate the automatic outs that plagued Atlanta late last season.

3. Ozzie Albies, 2B

Ozzie Albies’ situation mirrors Riley’s in many ways: flashes of excellence interrupted by injuries and declining consistency.

Once a dynamic catalyst at the top of Atlanta’s lineup, Albies has struggled to stay healthy and productive over the past two seasons. His aggressive approach, previously an asset, has increasingly been exploited by opposing pitchers, resulting in quick outs and stalled rallies.

The stakes are real. Atlanta holds a team option for Albies in 2027, meaning 2026 could define his future with the organization. Surrounded by one of the deepest lineups the Braves have fielded in years, Albies doesn’t need to reinvent himself—he simply needs to stay healthy and return to the player he has been for most of his career.

4. Spencer Strider, RHP

Perhaps no player faces more pressure than Spencer Strider.

After returning from a season-ending injury in 2024, Strider struggled mightily in 2025, finishing with 14 losses and a 4.45 ERA. Once dominant, he became surprisingly hittable, allowing consistent hard contact and failing to string together quality starts.

Atlanta’s postseason aspirations hinge on Strider rediscovering his form. At his best, a rotation featuring Strider, Chris Sale, and Spencer Schwellenbach can match up with any staff in baseball. At his worst, it leaves the Braves vulnerable in both the regular season and October.

If Strider cannot return to elite status, Atlanta’s path to an NL East title—and beyond—becomes significantly steeper.

Final Thought

The Braves still have the talent to contend. What they lack is certainty. These four veterans sit at the center of Atlanta’s hopes—and its risks. If they rebound, the Braves remain among baseball’s elite. If not, 2026 could mark the beginning of a far more uncomfortable transition.

Spring training won’t decide everything, but for these players, it may decide more than they realize.