Braves Central Podcast

The Atlanta Braves are heating up — but can they keep it going against a dangerous Detroit Tigers team?

Chris Dimino and Barrett Sallee break down the upcoming series, including Atlanta’s explosive offense, key pitching matchups, and what to expect from rising arm Jr. Ritchie as he faces a tough test.

We also dive into the Tigers’ strengths, including their rotation, recent hot streaks at the plate, and why this matchup may be tougher than it looks.

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The Atlanta Braves are rolling after a statement sweep over the Philadelphia Phillies—and this might be their most complete stretch of baseball yet. On this episode of Brave Central, Barrett Sallee and Chris Dimino break down: Michael Harris II’s HUGE series (6-for-7, massive jump in AVG) Austin Riley staying hot with a 2-HR game Dominant bullpen performance shutting the door late Ronald Acuña Jr. sealing it with a highlight defensive play Why the Phillies are in serious trouble early in the season Plus, a look ahead to the Nationals series and how Atlanta can keep stacking wins in the NL East. 📈 The Braves are building early separation in the division—can they keep it going? 👇 Drop your thoughts in the comments: Is THIS the best version of the Braves we’ve seen so far? ⏱️ Chapters: 0:00 – Braves Sweep Phillies Recap 2:15 – Philly Fans BOOED Out of the Stadium 😬 4:30 – Michael Harris II BREAKOUT Series (6-for-7!) 7:10 – Austin Riley Stays HOT 🔥 8:45 – Bullpen DOMINANCE Breakdown 11:20 – Ronald Acuña Jr. Game-Saving Play 12:40 – Phillies’ Major Issues Explained 15:10 – NL East Standings & Early Separation 17:00 – Nationals Series Preview 19:30 – Final Thoughts + What’s Next #Braves #AtlantaBraves #MLB #BravesCountry #RonaldAcuna #MichaelHarris #AustinRiley #MLBHighlights #Baseball #Phillies #MLBRecap #BravesWin #bravescountry

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Barrett Sallee and Chris Dimino break down the Atlanta Braves’ recent series and what’s trending early in the season. After a strong start in Arizona, the offense stalled — raising concerns about familiar issues from last year, including struggles in one-run games and with runners in scoring position. 🔹 Austin Riley pressing at the plate? Manager Walt Weiss takes a different approach than Brian Snitker 🔹 Ronald Acuña Jr. showing signs of breaking out after a strong performance 🔹 Braves bullpen vs. Diamondbacks missed opportunities 🔹 Preview of the Angels series — including Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, and closer Jordan Romano 🔹 Historic MLB moment: Jo Adell’s unreal defensive performance 🔹 Pitching matchup spotlight: Chris Sale vs. José Soriano Plus: – Thoughts on early-season run differential – Why Michael Harris II and Drake Baldwin could be key moving forward – What to expect as the Braves continue their road trip Presented by Marietta Toyota 📍 New episodes of Braves Central drop weekly 📺 Subscribe for more Braves coverage, interviews, and analysis ⏱️ Chapters 0:00 Intro & Braves Central Welcome 0:08 Braves Series Recap vs. Diamondbacks 0:26 One-Run Losses & Offensive Concerns 0:40 Bullpen Missed Opportunities 1:25 Austin Riley Pressing at the Plate 2:08 Should Riley Sit or Play Through It? 2:27 Ronald Acuña Jr. Starting to Heat Up 3:03 Managing Acuña’s Playing Time (Turf, DH Role) 3:47 Walt Weiss’ Honest Approach 4:13 Do Days Off Actually Help Hitters? 5:21 Braves vs. Angels Preview 5:44 Angels Overview: Star Power but No Results 6:15 Jo Adell’s Historic Defensive Game 7:19 Rarest Feat in Baseball History Debate 8:54 Angels Roster Notes (Trout, Romano, etc.) 9:41 Run Differential vs. Winning Close Games 10:33 Pitching Matchup: Chris Sale vs. José Soriano 11:16 Keys for Braves Bats to Get Going 12:00 Road Trip Stretch & Schedule Outlook 12:11 Split-Screen Night: Braves vs. National Championship 12:46 Final Thoughts on Braves Early Season Trends 13:45 Next Episode Preview & Homestand Ahead 13:54 Marietta Toyota Sponsor Read

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The Braves take 2 of 3 from the Royals — and it ends with a moment Atlanta won’t forget. Dominic Smith delivers a walk-off grand slam in his Braves debut, and suddenly the conversation around this team feels different. On Braves Central, Barrett Sallee and Chris Dimino break down the series win, what stood out from the pitching staff, and why this Braves team may already be showing a winning formula early in the season. They dive into: Dominic Smith’s walk-off grand slam and what it means Strong pitching: 24 strikeouts vs 9 walks Didier Fuentes emerging as a key bullpen arm Bryce Elder and the big rotation questions Increased aggressiveness on the basepaths Why the A’s may be better than their 0-3 start Presented by Marietta Toyota. Catch Braves Central all season and the Ford Leadoff Show before every Braves game on the Braves Radio Network. 👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more Braves coverage. #Braves #AtlantaBraves #MLB #DominicSmith #BravesCentral Chapters: 0:00 Braves take series vs Royals 0:30 Dominic Smith walk-off grand slam reaction 1:30 Why this series win matters 2:30 Pitching shines (24 Ks, 9 BBs) 3:45 Didier Fuentes breakout performance 5:00 Bryce Elder: big question in rotation 6:30 Previewing the A’s series 8:00 Don’t overlook Oakland’s talent 9:30 Braves offensive consistency + key moments 11:00 Basepath aggressiveness stands out 12:30 Final thoughts + what to watch next

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Opening Day is HERE — and Atlanta Braves baseball is officially back.

On this episode of Braves Central, Barrett Sallee and Chris Dimino break down everything you need to know heading into the Braves’ opening series against the Kansas City Royals.

⚾ Topics covered:

• Braves Opening Day roster surprises (12 new faces)
• Why spring training stats DON’T matter
• The underrated strength of the Braves bullpen
• Spencer Strider update & rotation concerns
• Why the Royals are a sneaky playoff threat
• A wild Bryce Elder stat you probably didn’t know
• Keys to a strong start (and why 4-2 matters)

Plus, why this season could come down to bullpen performance and situational baseball more than ever.

📅 New episodes drop before every Braves series all season long.

🎙️ Hear Barrett & Dimino on the Atlanta Braves Radio Network pregame show — and right here on Braves Central.

Presented by Marietta Toyota.

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The guys discuss the newly announced BravesVision streaming service, what the $99.99 price means for fans, and how watching Braves games could actually become easier this season depending on upcoming carriage deals. Pasted text They also take a close look at the Braves starting rotation, how injuries have reshaped the pitching plans for Opening Day, and why Bryce Elder appears locked in as the No. 5 starter. Plus, one unexpected storyline: Dom Smith. The veteran signed a minor-league deal, but strong spring training performances could earn him real at-bats as the Braves’ designated hitter early in the season. Other topics in this episode: Why the Braves offense must improve after finishing 13th in MLB in runs scored last season How just half a run more per game could drastically change their season Outfield depth questions heading into Opening Day Why base running could be a key offensive improvement With Opening Day against the Kansas City Royals approaching fast, the Braves season is almost here.

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The 2026 season is officially here — and Braves Central is BACK. Chris Dimino and Barrett Sallee break down: Chris Sale’s extension (2 years, $45M) Why the offense — not just pitching — cost the Braves in 2025 Ronald Acuña’s shocking RBI stat Drake Baldwin batting second?! Orlando Arcia’s ripple effect on the lineup Why base running could quietly change everything What Plan A looks like for Walt Weiss Plus: Why losing one- and two-run games buried Atlanta last year and how they fix it.

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The Atlanta Braves close the book on 2025, and Braves Central has all the storylines that matter. ⚾️ From Charlie Morton’s legendary farewell to the challenges and inconsistencies that defined the season, Chris Dimino and Barrett Sallee break down what went wrong, what went right, and how the Braves can bounce back in 2026. Plus, how the Mets’ collapse and Reds’ rise could shape the National League landscape. We’ll cover: 👏 Morton’s farewell & career legacy ⚾️ Braves’ offensive struggles & pitching woes 🔥 Keys to winning back the fan base 💸 What the offseason could bring in free agency 📊 NL rivals: Mets’ meltdown vs. Reds’ rise

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The Atlanta Braves close out their final homestand of the season with a chance to play spoiler against playoff hopefuls. Barrett Sallee and Chris Dimino break down the impact Atlanta can make down the stretch — and what the future holds for closer Raisel Iglesias. Will he be back next year?

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The Braves wrap up their final road trip of the season with a series in Detroit against the Tigers. Matt Olson looks to close strong, chasing 30 home runs and 100 RBI. Spencer Strider continues to show progress on the mound. Joey Wentz gets a big start with plenty to prove. Plus, Chris Dimino shares some unforgettable (and hilarious) stories from his trips to Detroit. Subscribe to Braves Central for the latest Braves news, breakdowns, and insider stories all season long.

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