2026 Braves Lineup
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The 2026 Atlanta Braves are built around one of the most talented cores in baseball. With Ronald Acuña Jr. healthy and back in right field, Matt Olson and Austin Riley anchoring the middle of the order, and Ozzie Albies returning at second base, the lineup has the potential to be one of the most dangerous in the National League. Walt Weiss has mixed and matched throughout the early going, rotating players through DH and the outfield corners depending on the opposing pitcher. Below you'll find the full cast of position players who make up this year's lineup, along with some interactive scouting profiles for each.
★ = returning from injury | Tap a position to jump to that player
Ronald Acuña Jr.
#13 · Bats R / Throws RThe generational talent is fully healthy and back where he belongs. When Acuña is right, he changes the math for the entire lineup just by stepping into the box.
Ronald Acuña Jr.
- Former MVP coming off two knee surgeries; camp reports say the explosiveness is back
- Career 40/70 potential (HRs/SBs) when fully healthy, the only player in MLB history with a 40/70 season
- Moves from leadoff to the 2-hole in some configurations under Walt Weiss
- One of the best pure athletes in all of professional sports
Matt Olson
#28 · Bats L / Throws RThe Gold Glove first baseman and lineup anchor. Olson's left-handed pop and plate discipline make him the steady engine of Atlanta's offense every night.
Matt Olson
- Hit 54 home runs during his monster 2023 campaign, Atlanta's franchise single-season record
- Elite defender at first base with outstanding scooping and pick-throw awareness
- Has mashed early in 2026 after a bounceback second half last season
- Signed through 2030, the cornerstone of the Braves' long-term lineup construction
Austin Riley
#27 · Bats R / Throws RAustin Riley is the Braves' RBI machine and run-producing heartbeat. The right-handed slugger delivers consistent damage in the heart of the order and has grown into one of the best third basemen in the NL.
Austin Riley
- All-Star in 2022 and 2023, one of the most consistent run producers in baseball over the last four years
- A true middle-of-the-order bat who can carry a lineup for stretches at a time
- Coming off a frustrating 2025 that was derailed by injury; fully healthy entering this year
- Locked up long-term, signed through 2033 on a $212M deal
Ozzie Albies
#1 · Switch Hitter / Throws RThe switch-hitting sparkplug. Albies brings energy, defensive range, and surprising pop from both sides of the plate. A fan favorite since his debut and the emotional pulse of the infield.
Ozzie Albies
- Two-time All-Star and World Series champion, integral to every deep Braves run
- Has hit 30+ home runs in a season despite standing 5'8"; electric bat speed from both sides
- One of the most team-friendly contracts in baseball history
- Often bats in the 2-3 spot under Weiss, sandwiched between Acuña and the big boppers
Michael Harris II
#23 · Bats L / Throws LThe NL Rookie of the Year in 2022, Harris covers center field with breathtaking range and arm strength. He's the athletic backbone of Atlanta's defense and still developing his offensive ceiling.
Michael Harris II
- Won NL Rookie of the Year in 2022, one of the most exciting debuts in Braves history
- Gold Glove-caliber center fielder who makes highlight-reel catches look routine
- Signed a long-term extension, locking him in as the CF of the future
- Has split time between CF and sitting against tough lefties in 2026's early lineup configurations
Mauricio Dubón → Ha-Seong Kim
#26 Dubón · Kim returning from finger injuryDubón has held down shortstop capably while Ha-Seong Kim recovers from a torn finger tendon. When Kim returns (expected by mid-May), the Braves gain one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball and Dubón slides into a super-utility role.
SS: Dubón → Kim
- Dubón: Ultra-versatile, can play SS, 2B, CF, and corner outfield. Valuable glue piece for any contender
- Dubón: Has also seen time in left field this year when Weiss shuffles the lineup
- Kim: Major offseason free agent signing, elite defensive shortstop who posted 4+ WAR in San Diego
- Kim: Torn tendon in right middle finger; expected back in the first half of May
Drake Baldwin / Jonah Heim
Sean Murphy returning from hip surgeryThe Braves are running a catching platoon while Sean Murphy rehabs from hip surgery. Baldwin (L) has earned more DH reps with his bat, while Heim (S) handles much of the catching workload. Murphy's return should come by mid-May.
Catching Corps
- Baldwin: 2025 NL Rookie of the Year, has frequently batted second in the order this year
- Heim: Switch-hitting catcher acquired to bridge the gap; strong framing and game management
- Murphy: Two-time All-Star rehabbing from hip surgery (Sept. 2025), expected back first half of May
- When Murphy returns, Atlanta will have arguably the deepest catching depth in baseball
Mike Yastrzemski
#16 · Bats L / Throws L · Also: Dubón, WhiteThe grandson of Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski, "Yaz" joined the Braves and has been the primary left fielder against right-handed pitching. Dubón has also seen time here in platoon-friendly configurations.
Mike Yastrzemski
- Carl Yastrzemski's grandson, carries the family name with a professional, grinder mentality
- Primarily starts vs. right-handed pitching; Dubón often slots into LF vs. lefties
- Can also play all three outfield spots, giving Weiss mix-and-match flexibility
- Acquired from San Francisco to fill the void left by Profar's 162-game suspension
The Flex Spots
Baldwin, Smith, Heim, Farmer · RotationWalt Weiss rotates the DH spot freely. Baldwin often DHs when not catching. Dominic Smith gets the nod against righties, and Kyle Farmer or Heim fill the role against lefties. This flexibility keeps everyone fresh.
DH Rotation & Bench
- Dom Smith: Primary DH vs. RHP, left-handed bat who can also spell Olson at 1B
- Kyle Farmer: Atlanta native, UGA product; can play C, SS, 2B, and 3B. The ultimate Swiss Army knife
- Jorge Mateo: Elite speed and defensive range at SS, an electric pinch-runner and late-game sub
- Eli White: Starts in CF or LF vs. lefties; provides right-handed balance and defensive range
Build Your Ideal Braves Lineup
Think you can set a better lineup than Walt Weiss? Pick your preferred nine from the 2026 roster, then share your lineup card on social media. Tap each slot to assign a player.
Your Lineup Card
How Walt Weiss Builds the Lineup
In his first season managing the Braves, Walt Weiss has shown a willingness to shuffle the order based on the opposing pitcher and matchup context. The top of the order stays mostly fixed, with Acuña leading off (or batting second), Baldwin or Albies behind him, and the Olson-Riley combo in the 3-5 spots. The bottom third rotates freely.
Against right-handed starters, Weiss has leaned on Yastrzemski in left field and Dominic Smith at DH, stacking left-handed bats through the order. Against lefties, the lineup shifts: Eli White moves into the outfield, Heim catches, Dubón stays in the lineup somewhere, and the DH spot goes to a right-handed bat like Farmer.
This flexibility is by design. Rather than locking into one lineup card every night, the Braves have built a roster deep enough to adjust based on matchups, rest, and recent performance. Once Ha-Seong Kim and Sean Murphy return from injury, the lineup will only get deeper and harder to pitch around.
The Returning Reinforcements
Two key players are expected to rejoin the lineup by mid-May. Ha-Seong Kim, the major offseason free agent addition at shortstop, is recovering from a torn tendon in his right middle finger. When Kim is back, Dubón becomes a super-utility option who can cover shortstop, second base, center field, and left field off the bench or in spot starts.
Sean Murphy's return from hip surgery will give the Braves arguably the best catching depth in baseball. Murphy is a two-time All-Star with elite framing and power from the right side. Combined with Drake Baldwin's breakout bat and Jonah Heim's switch-hitting and veteran presence behind the plate, the catching corps will become a genuine lineup strength.
Looking Ahead
If the core stays healthy and the reinforcements arrive on schedule, this Braves lineup has the pieces to match up with anyone in the National League. The combination of Acuña's speed, the Olson-Riley power corridor, Albies' switch-hitting versatility, and Harris's defense-plus-development ceiling gives Atlanta a lineup that can beat you in multiple ways. Weiss has shown he's willing to use every tool available to him.