Riding a streak of seven consecutive playoff appearances, including their 2021 World Series championship, the Atlanta Braves entered spring training with aspirations of reclaiming the National League East crown and securing what would be just their third World Series title since relocating to Atlanta in 1966.
However, just two days into camp—and four days before their first full-squad workout—the Braves have already encountered setbacks in their pursuit of another deep postseason run.
Atlanta finished second in the NL East in 2024, trailing the Philadelphia Phillies by six games. Their playoff run was short-lived, as they were quickly eliminated by the San Diego Padres in the Wild Card round, losing the first two games of the best-of-three series. The early exit followed six straight division titles, though it fell short of the franchise’s record streak of 11 consecutive NL East championships from 1995 to 2005.
Braves Looking for Only 5th World Series Ring Ever
Even during their remarkable streak of division dominance, the Braves only reached the World Series three times, securing just one championship in 1995. Since adopting the “Braves” name in 1912, the franchise has claimed only four World Series titles. While based in Milwaukee, they won in 1957 by defeating the New York Yankees in seven games.
Going even further back, the Boston Braves captured their lone championship in 1914 before relocating to Milwaukee in 1953. That year, the “Miracle Braves” overcame a dreadful start—losing 18 of their first 22 games and sitting in last place by mid-July—before mounting an incredible turnaround. They won 23 of their next 27 games (plus one tie) and surged to first place for good on September 5. With no league playoffs at the time, the Braves went straight to the World Series, where they swept the Philadelphia Athletics in four games.
Now, 111 years after that historic season, the current Atlanta Braves hope to restore the franchise’s glory. However, they will begin 2025 without two of their biggest stars. Reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. will miss the early part of the season as he recovers from a torn ACL, and right-hander Spencer Strider—MLB’s last 20-game winner with a 20-5 record in 2023—remains sidelined.
Strider’s 2024 campaign was cut short after just one start due to a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, requiring surgery. As the 2025 season begins, he remains in rehab, working toward a return from the significant injury.
Strider, Acuña Jr. Will Not Be Healthy for Opening Day
Ronald Acuña Jr., the 2018 NL Rookie of the Year and 2023 NL OPS leader (1.012), suffered a torn ACL in his left knee on May 26 and underwent surgery on June 4. It marked the second time in his seven-year career that he tore the same ligament, the first occurring on July 10, 2021.
After his previous ACL injury, Acuña didn’t return until 20 games into the 2022 season. Heading into 2025 spring training, he reported feeling 90 to 95 percent recovered, but he will not be ready for Opening Day on March 27 in San Diego.
Reflecting on the challenges of the 2024 season, Braves left-hander and reigning NL Cy Young winner Chris Sale acknowledged the team’s struggles. “It just kind of seemed like we never really got our head fully above water,” Sale said at the start of training camp. “It just seemed like one thing after the other. A lot of it was just kind of bad luck or bad timing.”
Despite the setbacks, Sale was a bright spot in his first season with Atlanta. After years of battling injuries, he finally enjoyed his first mostly healthy campaign since 2017, his debut season with the Boston Red Sox.
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