Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker hardly needs to think about his elite lineup, generally leaving it alone and following a prepared script. He's got top MVP candidates OF Ronald Acuna Jr. and 1B Matt Olson safe in the leadoff and cleanup roles, respectively, and the first four Braves hitters are among the top 25 options on the full season Player Rater. However, a fifth Braves hitter has emerged and is the No. 30 option on the 30-day Rater, and he bats ninth.
Michael Harris II was surprisingly incredible as a rookie last season, hitting .297 with 19 home runs and 20 stolen bases over only 114 games and 441 plate appearances, but due to his sketchy plate discipline and struggles against left-handed pitching, there were concerns about taking a step back in his second season. Then Harris hit .174 through May. The ninth-round selection in ESPN average live drafts looked like a bust.
Harris looks great now, as he hit .372 in June, and is batting .375 in August, showing power, speed and considerably better plate discipline. There was some bad luck early in the season and his BABIP is over .400 this month, but this is the profile of a second-year player who has made great strides in his approach, and the future looks even brighter. On most teams, Harris would hit first or second.
On this team, however, Harris plays the role of second leadoff hitter and plays it well. He has shown a modest increase in his walk rate this season, but the drop in his strikeout rate is more notable. Harris is making far better contact, using his speed to get on base, and while his home run and isolated power has dipped, he is hitting more fly balls. Harris also boasts even splits against left- and right-handed pitching. He is only 22, meaning Atlanta could have five hitters among the top 25 in the sport soon.
The Braves are flirting with the record for home runs in a season, with 41 more blasts than the next team, averaging close to six runs per game. Olson has 43 home runs, perhaps on his way to the historic 60-home run mark. Acuna might steal 75 bases and score 150 runs. While some can point to them facing poor pitching -- New York Mets infielder Danny Mendick allowed eight runs in relief Saturday -- there is no stopping this lineup, but its depth is a big part of things.
Snitker utilizes one platoon, with Eddie Rosario and Kevin Pillar handling left field, and the team is enjoying surprising seasons from DH Marcell Ozuna and SS Orlando Arcia. Ozuna is barely a league-average hitter, but he should surpass 30 home runs. Arcia seemed an unlikely choice to win the shortstop job. He hit .198 in 2021 and looked like a utility option last season. He made the All-Star team. C Sean Murphy might finish tops at his position on the Rater, too. We have not seen an offense like this. Arcia, Ozuna and the left fielders are the only ones readily available for fantasy managers.
Thoughts on other top offenses
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers rank second in home runs and the top of the lineup is just incredible with OF/2B/SS Mookie Betts and 1B Freddie Freeman leading the way. DH J.D. Martinez and C Will Smith are All-Stars and 3B/2B Max Muncy provides power and walks, but the lineup needs more depth. OF James Outman is their version of Harris, in more ways than one. Outman is hitting .329 since the All-Star break with 22 walks versus 23 strikeouts. Before the break, he walked 26 times against 104 whiffs. Outman is also hitting lefties quite nicely. He doesn't hit ninth in this lineup, but a 25/25 season lurks.
Texas Rangers
The Rangers also feature fantastic fantasy options at the top of their lineup with middle infielders Marcus Semien and Corey Seager, and OF Adolis Garcia, who thanks to 89 RBIs, is actually their top option on the Player Rater. Lineup depth has been lacking lately, though, with 3B Josh Jung (thumb) and C Jonah Heim (wrist) out. Heim surprisingly returned to the active lineup Sunday, drawing a walk in four PA. The top fantasy catcher for the season is no guarantee to hit, though, since his is a wrist injury and surgery was and remains a viable option. Add Heim if you can, but if he struggles to hit, move on.
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs are one of the surprising offenses since the All-Star break, hitting .282 and slugging .490 in that span, as six Cubs rank among the top 50 hitters on the 30-day Rater. OF Cody Bellinger, SS Dansby Swanson, SS/2B Nico Hoerner and OF Ian Happ are no surprise, but two other Cubs are readily available in ESPN standard leagues. 1B/3B Jeimer Candelario is hitting .425 with a 1.114 OPS over 11 games since coming to the Cubs in a trade and OF Mike Tauchman leads off versus right-handers, hitting .333 overall over three weeks.
Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays have been a .500 team for months, in part because they keep losing starting pitchers, but the offense is also not as strong. OF Randy Arozarena is hitting .177 since the All-Star break. Most of us would have difficult time dropping him, but if this continues, we may have little choice. The lone Rays hitter among the top 50 batters on the 30-day Rater is SS Wander Franco, who is a question mark to play this week as the league and team deal with controversial social media posts. Those who have relied on Rays OF Josh Lowe, 3B Isaac Paredes and OF Jose Siri may need to lose elsewhere.
Kansas City Royals
The Royals still seem allergic to drawing many walks, but they are hitting .270 since the break with power and 39 stolen bases. You know about SS/3B Bobby Witt Jr., a top-10 option on the 30-day Rater, but C/OF MJ Melendez, SS/3B Maikel Garcia and OF Dairon Blanco have performed well recently. 2B Michael Massey has 10 home runs over 317 PA this season. This is someone to watch for 25 home runs next season.