Entering Sunday, the Atlanta Braves are preparing for a rubber match against a fellow National League foe, the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, on May 11, the Braves are not quite where they expected to be.
Speaking competitively, Atlanta has compiled a mediocre 19-20 (.487) record to this point, which has them in third place of a hyper-talented N.L. East division. Of course, the Braves boast premium talent of their own, but in 2025, it is not translating to wins at an effective rate.
Last season, Atlanta was given somewhat of a mulligan after critical injuries to stars like Spencer Strider, Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies and others. Back in the present, the Braves are finally nearing full health, but will manager Brian Snitker be around long enough to see what this team can really do?
On Friday morning, Bleacher Report revealed its list of six managers who could be next on the chopping block, featuring Snitker at No. 2.
Strider and Acuña should rejoin the team within the next month, and that could certainly provide a jolt in the arm. Still, the 2023 National League MVP has already had an awkward encounter with Snitker — now in his 10th season at post — this year despite not playing a single MLB contest.
It should be stated that Snitker has coached the Braves into the postseason in seven consecutive campaigns (and counting), ultimately winning the 2021 World Series with Atlanta. Regardless, rifts with superstar players, dugout gaffs and losing records never bode well to upper management.
This current series in Pittsburgh raises the alarm for Snitker for a couple reasons. Off the bat, the Pirates recently canned Derek Shelton. Notably, the move signaled the first managerial firing of 2025.
From there, Snitker was complicit in a mental lapse against the Bucs on Friday night when attempting to pinch hit for Braves outfielder Stuart Fairchild. The situation resulted in a pitch-clock violation, and a crucial strikeout for Alex Verdugo—Atlanta subsequently lost the game, 3-2.
Since arriving in 2016, Snitker showcases a 754-602 (.556) record as the Braves’ skipper. Still, talent windows are not open forever, and his influence on this team has been questioned more than once this year.
In 2025, Atlanta ranks middle-of-the-pack in most metrics. Prior to Sunday’s affair in “Steel City,” the Braves are sporting a .692 team OPS (16th in MLB) while their pitching shows a collective 1.24 WHIP (11th).
Sunday’s rubber match between the Braves and Pirates is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET; the probable pitchers are Chris Sale and Carmen Mlodzinski.
