Should the Braves start resting infielders?

Does Atlanta need to start rotating through their infield for some strategic "load management", starting with shortstop Orlando Arcia?

The Braves have had the luxury of carrying just four infielders on the roster for the majority of this season, and part of that is due to the overwhelming success of shortstop Orlando Arcia. But he’s hit his biggest slump of the season in a time where the Braves happen to have six infielders on the roster, and four of them can play shortstop.

Arcia got out to a blistering start after winning the battle for starting shortstop this offseason and came out of nowhere to become one of three Braves starting in the All-Star game and the only infielder starting in a Braves infield that had all members receive invites to the Midsummer Classic.

However, Atlanta’s eight-hole hitter has slowed down a tick lately. Arcia’s homer on Sunday broke a 1-for-30 slump in his previous nine games and a four-game hitless streak. Before the homer, he hadn’t had an extra-base hit since a homer on August 10 versus the Pirates.

Every player goes through cold spurts, but Arcia has done it when the Braves have other options in the infield for once. He, along with the other Braves infielders have been workhorses this season, but even workhorses need breaks sometimes.

With 356 ABs, Arcia already has his most since 2019 and the third most in his nine-year career, and Austin Riley and Matt Olson (and Ronald Acuña Jr.) have started all 123 games this season. While those guys are not on similar cold streaks, an off day or two could benefit the team as they approach the end of the season and prepare for the playoffs.

It seemed as if Atlanta wasn’t at full strength in last season’s NLDS loss to the Phillies after an exhausting, though exhilarating, late-season NL East comeback to snatch the division from the Mets. This go around, the Braves have the benefit of a 13-game division lead (pending tonight’s Phillies game), giving them more of a leash to rest starters.

Some rest could help this infield recharge and return to early-season form, particularly Arcia. Atlanta has guys who are capable of filling in – guys that are in need of playing time anyway.

Outside of an IL stint that sidelined Arcia for just under a month in April and May, he has been the everyday starter for the Braves and allowed the Braves to take their time getting Vaughn Grissom major-league ready. However, Braves manager Brian Snitker has said it several times: when Grissom comes up to Atlanta, the intention is for him to play every day. But he’s just 0-for-2 in two pinch-hit ABs in six days since his promotion.

After placing second baseman Ozzie Albies on the 10-day IL on August 15, the Braves recalled Grissom to Atlanta for the second time this year. Grissom played 20 games at shortstop with Atlanta earlier this year when Arcia went on the IL, and he came up originally when Albies went on the IL last August.

Grissom ended up playing 41 games at the end of last season, and although he has a combined .286 average and .341/.398/.739 batting line between this year and last, he made 10 errors in those 61 games – six of them in 19 starts at shortstop this year.

His absence from the field, in large part, is due to the surge of Nicky Lopez, who the Braves acquired from the Royals on July 30th.

Lopez has started the last six games (seven total starts) at second base, but he is capable of being a utility man for Atlanta. He has started at least one game at every position in the infield in his career, with 243 at shortstop. His bat got off to a scorching start since getting a chance with the Braves, as he went 7-for-10 with a homer and eight RBI in his first two games, but he broke a four-game hitless streak on Sunday, going 2-for-2 with a pair of singles.

Then, there’s shortstop Luke Williams, who made his Braves debut as a pinch runner on Saturday (and scored on Eddie Rosario’s go-ahead homer). He’s 55-for-235 in his MLB career, and started 2023 with the Dodgers before being claimed off waivers by Atlanta on June 5 and is still awaiting his first AB in a Braves uniform.

Arcia, like the rest of the infield, has been outstanding for the Braves this season. He has 100 hits, 14 homers, a .774 OPS and a .983 fielding percentage.

As seen during his IL stint, the Braves are much better with him at shortstop (Arcia has a 2.1 WAR and 0.8 DWAR this season, while Grissom had a negative WAR and DWAR in his absence). The idea of resting players isn’t to suggest the benching or permanent replacement of Arcia (or anyone), but the All-Star has had, by far, his biggest workload in four years this season.

Rest might help boost guys around him, too, and with the roster expanding from 26 to 28 in September, the Braves should have the luxury of keeping six infielders, if not adding more. Adding another position player also gives the Braves more depth if they want to rest Acuña.

The Braves’ lineup consistency has yielded great results this season, but with the recent roster additions in the infield and a comfortable division lead, it might be time to give those guys some days off to ensure they are well rested going into the playoffs. 

---

Check out Braves Today on Socials!
Follow Braves Today on Twitter!
Like Braves Today on Facebook!
Check out the homepage for more Atlanta Braves News!
Subscribe to Braves Today on YouTube!
Get Exclusive Braves Merchandise from FOCO