Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Getting start in left field
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Ozuna is batting sixth and getting the start in left field Opening Day against the Nationals.
With southpaw Patrick Corbin on the bump for the Nats, Ozuna will move out of the designated hitter role and into the field. The 32-year-old worked on his shoulder strength in the offseason to try and avoid being a defensive liability again, but if he can't hold up with the glove, Kevin Pillar could become the preferred platoon partner in left for Eddie Rosario. Ozuna has has some things to prove at the plate after stumbling to a .222/.278/.397 slash line over the last two seasons.
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Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Slugs first spring homer
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Ozuna went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins.
He took Kenta Maeda deep in the third inning, giving Ozuna his first homer of the spring. The 32-year-old slugger is gaining momentum at the plate as Opening Day approaches, and he's now batting .270 (10-for-37) this spring, with half of his hits going for extra bases.
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Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Bat heating up
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Ozuna went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, two runs scored and four RBI in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.
The veteran slugger banged out his fourth two-bagger of the spring against Cristopher Sanchez as part of a four-run first inning. Ozuna is now hitting .321 (9-for-28) in camp, and while he's still looking for his first homer, he at least appears ready for Opening Day. The 32-year-old is looking to rebound from a rough 2022 campaign that saw him slash just .226/.274/.413, and he could offer some late-round power production this season.
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Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Remains favorite for DH job
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Ozuna has gotten more plate appearances than any Atlanta player who isn't either participating in the WBC or competing for a job through the early part of the Grapefruit League schedule, and he's been used exclusively at designated hitter, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
The 32-year-old worked to improve his shoulder strength in the offseason in an effort to not be such a liability in the field, but Atlanta would be content simply to get some value out of his bat at this point. Ozuna has two years and $32 million remaining on his contract with a $16 million club option for 2025, but over the last two seasons he's played only 172 games due to injuries and off-field issues, posting decent power numbers with 30 homers and 82 RBI but slashing a weak .222/.278/.397.
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Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Not starting Game 4
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Ozuna will sit for Game 4 of the NLDS against the Phillies on Saturday.
Ozuna sat for Game 1 but returned for Games 2 and 3. He's yet to make an impact this series, going 0-for-8 with four strikeouts. William Contreras will get his chance as the designated hitter in Game 4.
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Braves' Marcell Ozuna: On bench for Game 1
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Ozuna will sit for Game 1 of the NLDS against the Phillies on Tuesday.
Ozuna had a disappointing season overall, hitting .226/.274/.413 in 124 games. He earned a spot on Atlanta's playoff roster nonetheless, but he won't get the start against lefty Ranger Suarez in Game 1. It's possible he starts Game 2 or 3 against righties Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, but it will be William Contreras who serves as the designated hitter Tuesday.
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Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Strengthens bid for playoff roster
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Ozuna went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run and a double in a loss to the Marlins on Wednesday.
Ozuna got the start at DH and gave Atlanta its first (albeit brief) lead with a three-run homer to left field in the sixth inning. The veteran struggled to a .226/.274/.413 slash line over 124 games this season but did contribute power with 23 homers and 56 RBI. Ozuna finished the season hitting well, batting .321 (17-for-53) since the start of September, which may have improved his chance of making the postseason roster, per David O'Brien of The Athletic.
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Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Riding pine Tuesday
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Ozuna is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Marlins, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Ozuna has played sporadically over the past couple weeks, but he heads to the bench for a second day in a row Tuesday. Robbie Grossman will start in left field while William Contreras draws the start at designated hitter.
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Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Hits bench Monday
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Ozuna is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins.
Ozuna will take a seat after going 1-for-6 with a double and two strikeouts after serving as Atlanta's designated hitter over the final two games of its weekend series with the Mets. He'll likely continue to be part of a three-way timeshare at DH with Willson Conteras and Travis d'Arnaud.
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Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Back on bench
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Ozuna is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game in Washington, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Ozuna went 2-for-7 with a home run, a double, a walk and two RBI while starting against right-handed pitchers the past two days, but he'll cede designated hitter duties to Robbie Grossman in the series finale. Atlanta will likely take a committee approach to the DH spot over the final week of the regular season, making it difficult to depend on Ozuna seeing consistent at-bats.
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Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Remains on bench
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Ozuna isn't starting Saturday against the Phillies.
Ozuna has lost out on regular playing time recently and will be on the bench for the fifth time in the last seven games. William Contreras will serve as the designated hitter and bat seventh once again.
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Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Not starting Friday
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Ozuna isn't in the lineup Friday against the Phillies.
Ozuna started Wednesday against the Giants and went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts. However, he'll be out of the lineup for the fourth time in the last six games while William Contreras serves as the designated hitter and bats sixth.
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Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Misses second straight
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Ozuna isn't in the lineup Tuesday against the Giants.
Ozuna will sit for the second straight game Tuesday in favor of Eddie Rosario, who will bat seventh. Rosario is 4-for-4 over the last two games, so it seems Atlanta is simply opting for the hotter bat.
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Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Sitting out Monday
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Ozuna is not listed in the lineup for Monday's game against San Francisco.
Ozuna has a .940 OPS during September, but he will sit for the second time in three days Monday. In his place, Eddie Rosario will start the game in left field and bat eighth.
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Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Not in Saturday's lineup
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Ozuna will sit Saturday against Seattle.
Ozuna didn't make an appearance from Aug. 22 through Sep. 1, but he's since started six straight games in left field, posting a 1.008 OPS over that stretch. Eddie Rosario will fill that position Saturday.
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Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Drives in two in win
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Ozuna went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Tuesday's 10-9 win over the Athletics.
Ozuna has now produced hits while starting each of Atlanta's last four games, going a collective 6-for-13 with a double and a home run. He'll be in the lineup in left field and as Atlanta's No. 8 hitter for the series finale Wednesday. At this point, Ozuna appears to be ahead of both Robbie Grossman and Eddie Rosario for an everyday spot in the corner outfield.
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Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Draws third straight start
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Ozuna will start in left field and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Marlins.
Just three weeks ago, Ozuna looked to have lost hold of an everyday role, and it didn't help matters that he was arrested Aug. 19 on a DUI charge. Following the arrest, Ozuna appeared in just one of Atlanta's subsequent 12 games, only to surprisingly resurface in the lineup this weekend. After going 3-for-7 with a double in the first two games of the series, Ozuna will draw a third straight start in left field Sunday. At least for the time being, Ozuna seems to have taken back the everyday role at the position from Robbie Grossman, who is on the bench for the second straight contest.
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Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Re-enters lineup
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Ozuna is starting in left field and hitting eighth in Sunday's game against the Astros, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Ozuna had been out of the lineup for six consecutive games in favor of Robbie Grossman and Eddie Rosario. Ozuna was also arrested for driving under the influence Friday. However, Rosario will take a seat Sunday, giving Ozuna a starting opportunity.
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Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Arrested for DUI
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Ozuna was arrested for driving under the influence Friday morning, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com reports.
Ozuna was booked into the Gwinnett County Jail on Friday for DUI and Failure to Maintain Lane, and he was released on bond a few hours later. It's his second arrest in as many years, as he was charged with felony assault last year and was ultimately suspended by Major League Baseball. His status for Atlanta's weekend series against the Astros isn't yet clear.
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Braves' Marcell Ozuna: On outs as everyday player
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Ozuna remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mets.
Ozuna finds himself on the bench for the third game in a row, all of which have come against right-handed pitching. With Atlanta making more room of late at designated hitter for William Contreras and Eddie Rosario and in left field for Rosario and Robbie Grossman, the righty-hitting Ozuna looks like he might have to settle for a short-side platoon role, at best. Ozuna's declining playing time comes while he's slashed an ugly .184/.192/.329 with a 32.1 percent strikeout rate in 19 games since the All-Star break.
