What will Braves lineups look like with Ha-Seong Kim back?

The Atlanta Braves reinstated Ha-Seong Kim from the injured list on Monday ahead of their homestand against the Chicago Cubs.

The addition only strengthens what has already been one of the deepest rosters in baseball through the first six weeks of the season. However, for some players, it also means opportunities are about to become much harder to come by.

Given Ronald Acuña Jr. is also expected back sooner rather than later — potentially even sometime this week — it’s worth looking at what these lineups could look like once the Braves are finally at full strength.

Braves Potential Lineup Against RHP

1. Ronald Acuña Jr. (RF)
2. Drake Baldwin (C)
3. Matt Olson (1B)
4. Michael Harris II (CF)
5. Ozzie Albies (2B)
6. Austin Riley (3B)
7. Mauricio Dubon (LF)
8. Mike Yastrzemski (DH)
9. Ha-Seong Kim (SS)

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If Austin Riley ever gets going offensively again, he’ll probably slide back into the three or four spot. But right now, both Michael Harris II and Ozzie Albies have earned their place in the middle of the order with how they’ve swung the bat.

The bottom half of the lineup is where things get interesting.

Dominic Smith has been one of the best stories of the early season, but Mike Yastrzemski is on a multi-year deal and under contract beyond this season. It’s difficult to imagine the Braves giving up on him this early. Because if he’s not playing against right-handed pitching, he’s not playing much at all.

Atlanta could also choose to lean more heavily into left-handed bats at times by playing Yastrzemski in left field and using Smith at DH. We’ll probably see some variation of that if Smith keeps producing, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to justify taking Mauricio Dubón out of the lineup altogether given how valuable he’s been.

Realistically, we’re probably going to see several different combinations at the bottom of the order against right-handed pitching over the next month, and Dubón’s ability to play virtually every position on the field gives Walt Weiss a ton of flexibility.

Braves Potential Lineup LHP

1. Ronald Acuña Jr. (RF)
2. Drake Baldwin (DH)
3. Ozzie Albies (2B)
4. Matt Olson (1B)
5. Austin Riley (3B)
6. Michael Harris II (CF)
7. Mauricio Dubon (LF)
8. Sean Murphy (C)
9. Ha-Seong Kim (SS)

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The lineup against left-handed pitching feels a little more settled.

The Braves have leaned on Ozzie Albies heavily in the three-hole against southpaws this season, and the results have been outstanding. Riley also gets a slight bump over Harris against left-handed pitching because, despite the inconsistency overall, he’s still handled lefties fairly well. Then the lineup rounds out with Dubón, Sean Murphy, and Kim.

The one real question mark here is Murphy’s health.

Murphy underwent X-rays on his hand/finger following Sunday’s game, and the Braves indicated they’d have more information on Tuesday. Typically, when a team delays an update like that, it’s concerning. But if Murphy avoids anything serious, expect Atlanta to continue using him heavily behind the plate against left-handed pitching.

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(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)