Braves exposed by glaring problem during Drake Baldwin's oblique recovery

The Atlanta Braves’ primary catcher is Drake Baldwin, and that has essentially been the case for the past two seasons with Sean Murphy battling injuries. This season, Baldwin got off to a hot start as he looked to build on his Rookie of the Year campaign.

The Braves are the best team in baseball with 44 wins, and there is no denying that. However, Baldwin has been sidelined for the past couple of weeks while dealing with an oblique injury.

“The Atlanta Braves put Drake Baldwin on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, with an MRI revealing that the star catcher has a Grade 1 right oblique strain. Baldwin, the reigning National League Rookie of the Year, was replaced by backup catcher Sandy Leon in the sixth inning of Monday's 12-0 loss to the Miami Marlins. Manager Walt Weiss said Baldwin initially felt a slight discomfort after his second at-bat but not painful enough to warrant his removal,” ESPN wrote.

Baldwin is nearing a return, though it remains unclear exactly when that will be for Atlanta. The catcher has recently resumed baseball activities.

“Drake Baldwin said he has just started doing some baseball activities. Still hasn’t been cleared for dry swings. While he’s hopeful to return as soon as possible, he said he’s not aiming for a specific date,” MLB.com’s Mark Bowman wrote.

However, without Baldwin, the Braves have a significant lineup problem that cannot be ignored. The offensive production from the catcher position has been extremely poor in his absence.

“Braves catchers are 1-for-40 over the past 13 games,” MLB writer Jason Foster posted.

Baldwin is an important bat in the lineup, but the production from the catching spot has been a major issue. Combined with Ha-Seong Kim’s struggles, it often feels as though Atlanta is effectively hitting with just seven players.

Even so, it is impressive that the Braves have continued winning at the rate they have. The catching situation has provided little help, and Baldwin’s return cannot come soon enough to restore balance to the lineup.