By this time last season, the Braves were in trouble. They had opened 0-7 and learned that a key offseason addition, Jurickson Profar, would be lost for half a season after testing positive for a banned substance.
The Braves fought to one game over .500 by mid-May, but the roots of injury and underperformance that had manifested immediately persisted and their streak of seven straight playoff seasons ended.
During spring training, it seemed possible they were heading toward Season From Hell II.
They opened camp knowing AJ Smith-Shawver was likely out until 2027, and that their rotation had health and depth concerns. Then they lost four starters — Joey Wentz for the season, Spencer Strider until at least May, and Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep for months, at best. Furthermore, Profar tested positive again and was banned for the season.
