The Atlanta Braves settled in during their second game in West Sacramento, getting to A's starter Mitch Spence early, as their bats were just as hot as the game time weather.

ESPN handed out midseason grades for all 30 MLB teams, and spoiler alert, the Braves did not score well. The club received an “F” for its first-half performance, making it one of three organizations (with the Rockies and Orioles) to earn a failing grade.

PITCHING PROBABLES: Braves: Spencer Strider (3-7, 3.93 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 63 strikeouts); Athletics: JP Sears (7-7, 4.76 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 73 strikeouts) BOTTOM LINE: The Athletics and Atlanta Braves meet on Thursday with the three-game series tied 1-1.

It might be too late for the Braves to turn their season around, but Riley finishing his season strongly would certainly go a long way toward getting Braves fans excited for 2026 and beyond. Riley is locked in long-term on the most lucrative deal in franchise history. Having him perform like the superstar Braves fans expect him to be is a big deal.

At 39-50 entering play on Monday, the Braves are 9 1/2 games out of a potential playoff spot. They're running out of time to make any sort of push up the standings, and they'd have to do so without their two best starting pitchers, Chris Sale and Spencer Schwellenbach.

Atlanta native Butler, an alum of Westlake High, led off the game in electric fashion after hitting a long fly to right center that took a sharp bounce off the wall, as he sprinted around the full diamond for the inside-the-park homer. The Braves have now lost five straight and seven of eight.

The Atlanta Braves revealed that they'll be putting two important pieces of team history on display in the Monument Garden at Truist Park. The bat and ball from Hank Aaron's legendary 715th career home run to pass Babe Ruth to be the home run king will be viewable to the public.

For all intents and purposes, the Atlanta Braves kicked off the Drake Baldwin era on March 27. We’re just waiting on the official end of the Sean Murphy era.  T