Braves Briefing: Is Marcell Ozuna turning it around?

In the Atlanta Braves opener against the Marlins at Loan Depot Park, designated hitter Marcell Ozuna entered with an awful batting average of .085 after 18 games of the 2023 season. However, in the first game, he managed to improve his average to .111 by hitting two singles and walking once.

The real turning point for Ozuna came during the second game, a 14-6 win for the Braves on Wednesday night. He hit two home runs, including a grand slam in the second inning, and also managed to hit a single. As a result of his performance in both games, Ozuna doubled his total number of hits on the season to eight and raised his batting average to .147.

Notably, the grand slam was the first of the season for the Braves and the seventh of Ozuna's career. In addition, Ozuna hit his 200th career home run during the third inning of the same game, when he hit a shot into the Marlins bullpen down the left-field line. This was also his 15th career multi-homer game. The Braves had a total of six home runs in the game, with Michael Harris II, Austin Riley, Acuña, and Ozzie Albies also hitting one each.

Kyle Wright to the IL

The Braves pitcher will miss some action due to some right shoulder soreness. Wright was on the IL to start the season. He discussed the where the discomfort was after Wednesday night's game.

“It's kind of more in the back,” Wright said. “I felt really good in the first inning, and really -- when I went back out for the second inning, I didn't feel so great but obviously felt good enough to keep going. And when I got to the third and [Braves pitching coach Rick Kranitz] came out, it didn't feel good enough to keep going. At that point, I wasn’t being smart. So I give Kranny a lot of credit for protecting me from myself."

NL East Standings

Team	Record	GB	Action Today
Atlanta	21-10	-	@ Miami
Miami	16-15	5.0	Hosts Atlanta
NYM	16-15	5.0	@ Detroit
Philadelphia	15-17	6.5	Off
Washington	12-18	8.5	Hosts CHC

We wrote it

Braves Today's Andrew Stefaniak handled takeaways for Wednesday's action. He pointed out Albies' strong performance that was overshadowed by other news.

Ozzie Albies had one of his best games of the season, going 4-5 at the dish with two RBIs and two runs scored. One of Albies' four hits was his eighth home run of the season. The Braves second baseman had been in a bit of a slump of late, so a game like this will give him a massive confidence boost.

Watch Atlanta Braves Highlights vs Miami

What's next?

Atlanta wraps up the series Thursday afternoon with a mid-afternoon start, at 4:10 ET. The game broadcast, with Voice of the Braves Brandon Gaudin, is available inside Braves Country on Bally Sports South and on MLB.TV outside of the broadcast area. The radio call, with Ben Ingram, is available locally on 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan or outside the Atlanta market on the Atlanta Braves Radio Network or MLB.com.

More Stories from the Marlins series

Takeaways: The Braves bats were electric helping secure the series win over the Marlins

BREAKING: Michael Harris leaves Marlins game with leg injury

BREAKING: Kyle Wright leaves Miami start in the 3rd inning; will go on IL

WATCH: Long homers from Ronald Acuña Jr. and Austin Riley extend the Braves lead

WATCH: The Braves erupt for a seven-run second inning against the Marlins

Takeaways: Elder keys Atlanta to 6-0 series-opening win at Miami

WATCH: Eddie Rosario knocks in Matt Olson for the second time tonight, pushes Braves lead to 3-0

WATCH: Ozzie Albies takes Sandy Alcantara deep to give Braves early lead at Miami

Podcast: Is Ronald Acuña okay?

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