The bottom third of the Atlanta Braves’ lineup has played better than expected through six games this season. Players like Michael Harris II, Dom Smith, and Mauricio Dubon might not be lighting the baseball world on fire, but they are holding their own and contributing in various ways. Smith a lready has a game-winning home run this season, walking off against the Kansas City Royals during opening weekend. Dubon had three hits against the A’s on Monday and another hit on Tuesday. Harris, a notorious slow starter, got a hit on Tuesday night as well. The Braves’ first-year manager and veteran MLB shortstop Walt Weiss said he is pleased with how the bottom of the lineup has set the table for leadoff hitter Ronald Acuna, Jr. and the other big bats in the lineup: Matt Olson and Austin Riley.  Against the A’s, the big bats left several runners on base, even when they got off to strong starts. For example, on Monday against the A’s, during a 4-0 win, the Braves scored three runs in the first inning, then failed to score again until the eighth inning. On Tuesday, following a walk from Smith and a fielder’s choice error that allowed Dubon to get on base and Smith to second in the seventh inning, Acuna, Jr. and Olson were struck out with the runners on base.  Center fielder Michael Harris (above) and the Braves defeated the A’s 3-0 on Monday night. Harris is 5-23 through six games this season. Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves It’s early in the season, but the failure to get runs in can’t be blamed on the bottom third of the lineup. Harris II, 5-19 from the plate, is hitting .263 with three RBI and a home run. Dubon, in his first season with the Braves, is 6-14 with 5 RBI. When Ha-Seong Kim, the other shortstop in the lineup, gets back into the rotation, it’s going to be hard to keep Dubon, a utility infielder, out of the lineup.  Smith, who has only played in three games this season, is 3-9 and has 4 RBI and six total bases. On Tuesday night, Smith filled the designated hitter spot and batted eighth. He drew a walk and singled in the fifth inning.  On Wednesday afternoon, the Atlanta Braves closed a three-game series with the Athletics (I’m still not sure what city to associate this team with) with a 5-1 victory. During the game, Smith had two hits, while Dubon had a hit and scored a run. Braves DH Dom Smith (above) and the Braves lost to the Athletics at Truist Park on March 31, 2026. Smith had five hits in four games, including a walk-off home run. Photo by Kevin D. Liles/Atlanta Braves Next up for the Braves will be a trip west for a seven-game swing against the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Angels. The last seven-game West Coast road trip to start the season didn’t go well. The Braves started the 2025 season 0-7 after playing the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. This road trip isn’t against that particular caliber of opponent, but the first part of the trip will have to be without Chris Sale, who started on Wednesday afternoon in the series finale with the A’s. On Wednesday, his most recent start and second of the season, Sale (2-0) went six innings, giving up a hit and a run in the process.  The 2026 season has begun better than the 2025 season, that’s for sure. Atlanta came into Monday night with a 2-1 record following a series win over the Kansas City Royals on opening weekend. The highlight of that series can be the opening day start by Chris Sale, home runs by Drake Baldwin, Michael Harris, Ozzie Albies, and Dom Smith. The latter home run was a walk-off on night two of the season. The highlight of the series against the A’s might be the four-inning performance from Braves reliever Martin Perez on Tuesday night. The lefty came into the game in the fifth inning and pitched the rest of the game. In the ninth inning, Perez got the final three A’s hitters of the game to fly out and ground out. After the game, Martin was positive about his appearance tonight. For the first time in at least four years, he’s completely healthy and acknowledged that fact during his postgame press conference. “I’m healthy, I don’t feel any pain anymore,” he said. “It’s good to go out there and compete for your team.” His manager was equally positive about the pitching performance and the fact that he only needed to use three pitchers tonight. “Martin did an unbelievable job. He was just what the doctor ordered,” said Braves manager Walt Weiss after the game. Weiss and the Braves will need Perez, potentially as a fifth starter in Arizona, and second-year player Didier Fuentes, who pitched well (4 innings, 2 hits, 1 earned run, and 4 Ks) in long relief against Kansas City last Sunday. The post Bottom of Braves’ lineup and bullpen looks ready for 7-game road trip appeared first on The Atlanta Voice. ...read more read less