Despite Slow Start, Braves Still Ranked Among MLB’s Most Fun Teams to Watch

Apr 12, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Atlanta Braves second base Ozzie Albies (1) is congratulated after hitting a home run during the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

It may sound like a stretch given the early struggles, but the Atlanta Braves can still be one of the most fun teams to watch in baseball. That’s the sentiment from ESPN’s David Schoenfield, who recently ranked the Braves as the eighth-most entertaining team in MLB this season.

Using a custom point system, Schoenfield gave Atlanta a score of 25.5, including a 9 out of 10 for star power; and let’s face it, the Braves still have household names across the board, Ronald Acuña Jr., Spencer Strider, Marcell Ozuna, and Ozzie Albies among them.

With Strider expected to make his season debut this week and Acuña inching closer to returning, that star power might start translating into wins soon.

Here’s how Schoenfield broke it down:

• Star Power: 9

• Young Talent: 7

• Baserunning: 1

• Defense: 2.5

• Minutiae: 3

• Bonus Points (3 total):

  • +1 for Spencer Schwellenbach’s deep pitch arsenal

  • +1 for Strider’s return

  • +1 for Michael Harris II’s glow-in-the-dark swag

Schoenfield also added that the Braves' ugly start shouldn’t completely define their season; the pieces for a playoff contender are still there. But other than Ozuna, no one has consistently produced at the plate. Sound familiar? It’s a lot like what we saw last year.

For now, the Braves still hold strong in the “must-watch” category. Strider dominated in his rehab starts and should immediately step back in as one of the most exciting pitchers in the league. Schwellenbach, his fellow Spencer, is also drawing attention after three impressive starts and might just live up to Schoenfield’s preseason “sleeper Cy Young pick” tag.

The looming question now becomes: when will Ronald Acuña Jr. return, and what version of him will we see?

Regardless of the Braves’ early struggles, this is baseball, and things can turn around in a heartbeat. One hot stretch, one spark in the lineup, or the return of a key player can flip the momentum entirely. We’ve seen it happen before, and with the talent Atlanta has, it’s not out of the question for this team to rattle off a winning streak and climb right back into the conversation.

There’s still a long road ahead, 162 games is a marathon, not a sprint. As frustrating as the start has been, it’s important to remember that championships aren't won in April. Teams have overcome bad starts and made deep postseason runs, including Atlanta's World Series Championship team in 2021. The Braves have the firepower to right the ship. They just have to work through these times.

So while the record might not reflect it yet, the story of the 2025 Atlanta Braves is still being written. Who knows what the coming days, weeks, and months will bring? One thing’s for sure, this team still has the potential to be special.