Braves Struggling at the Plate, Harris Moved to Leadoff

The Story: The Braves are in a hitting slump that could sink their postseason run. Freddie Freeman’s Dodgers cruised to a Game 4 win, while Atlanta’s bats went cold—again. Manager Walt Weiss shook up the lineup, bumping Michael Harris II to leadoff after he emerged as the team’s hottest hitter this postseason. Meanwhile, Matt Olson, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Travis d’Arnaud (replacing Baldwin) are scuffling. Ken Rosenthal didn’t mince words: "If they don’t get to Tyler Glasnow, it’s over."

The Numbers: Acuña’s postseason OPS sits at .589, Olson’s at .421, and the team’s collective .198 batting average in the series is a recipe for elimination. Harris, with a .350 average and 2 HRs in 4 games, is the lone bright spot.

Brewers, Padres Make Moves to Stay Alive

Brewers: Left-hander Robert Gasser gets the nod for Game 4 against the Dodgers, a surprise given his 4.89 ERA in the regular season. Milwaukee’s bullpen has been shaky, but Gasser’s ability to limit hard contact could be key.

Padres: Michael King’s 5-out save in Game 3 was a masterclass—4 strikeouts, 0 hits, and a 1-2-3 ninth to preserve San Diego’s season. The Padres’ offense finally woke up, and King’s performance might’ve saved their playoff lives.

Front Office Shakeups: A’s Eyeing New GMs

Oakland’s GM search is heating up. Candidates include Brewers AGM Matt Kleine and Red Sox AGM Taylor Smith. Cardinals assistant GM Rob Cerfolio is also in the mix but may stay in St. Louis if Chaim Bloom’s front office reshuffles. The A’s, perennial underdogs, need a steady hand to navigate another rebuild.