The Yankees defeated the Braves 6-2 on July 18, 2025, as Aaron Judge's homer off Max Fried highlighted Atlanta's continued offensive struggles. Can they rebound?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a familiar story at Truist Park on Friday night: a formidable opponent, a few key mistakes, and an offense that couldn't find its spark. The Atlanta Braves kicked off their crucial series against the New York Yankees not with a bang, but with a whimper, falling 6-2 and dropping to a season-low 12 games under .500.
The Braves entered the series ranked 21st in MLB in runs per game (4.1) and team batting average (.243).
Max Fried battled on the mound but wasn't his sharpest, surrendering four runs (three earned) over 5.1 innings. The decisive blow came in the third inning when Yankees slugger Aaron Judge launched his 36th home run of the year, a two-run shot that gave New York a lead they would never relinquish. The Braves' bats, meanwhile, were silenced, managing only five hits all night. Matt Olson provided the lone spark with a double in the sixth, but the team couldn't string anything together. Reliever Joe Jiménez allowed two more runs in the eighth, putting the game firmly out of reach.
The loss underscores a troubling trend for Atlanta. The team is now just 3-7 in its last 10 games, largely due to an anemic offense. Entering the night, the Braves ranked near the bottom of the league in nearly every major offensive category. With only Matt Olson and Austin Riley consistently producing, the lineup is full of holes. The struggles were on full display against the Yankees, as the team failed to mount any significant threats and left runners stranded in key moments.
The challenges aren't just on the field. The front office made a move this week, trading reliever José Ruiz to the Texas Rangers, signaling potential further changes as the trade deadline approaches. Compounding the team's issues are the continued absences of its superstars. Both Ronald Acuña Jr. (left knee surgery) and Spencer Strider (right elbow surgery) remain on the injured list with no new updates on their return, leaving massive voids in the lineup and rotation that the team has been unable to fill.
As the Braves stare down the rest of this weekend series against a tough Yankees club, the questions only get louder. Can this offense wake up before the season slips away entirely? With the team now 42-54 and 12.5 games back in the division, Saturday's game is more than just another contest; it's a chance to show some fight and change the narrative.
