May 9, 2025
Atlanta Braves designated hitter
Marcell Ozuna went 2-for-4 with two singles in Thursday's 5-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds. The veteran also struck out twice. Ozuna is still getting on base at a strong clip, but he's slowed down power-wise over the last week or so, collecting just one extra-base hit in his previous nine games. While he doesn't boast the same gaudy pace he was on in 2024, the elite quality of contact metrics remains, as he bolsters well-above-average marks in that regard. The 34-year-old holds an absurd 20.8% walk rate -- the best in the league -- and has lowered his strikeout percentage to a palatable 21.5% (32:31 K:BB ratio). Look for the power to tick back up again soon.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
April 15, 2025
The Atlanta Braves sent outfielder
Marcell Ozuna (hip) back to Atlanta on Monday for an exploratory MRI exam on his injured hip, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Justin Toscano. The MRI showed inflammation but nothing serious, and Ozuna is considered day-to-day. While it seems that the 34-year-old veteran slugger has avoided a serious injury, he's expected to miss the entire three-game series in Toronto against the Blue Jays. Atlanta has the day off on Thursday before returning home on Friday to start a weekend series against the Minnesota Twins. Fantasy managers will want to check back then to see if Ozuna is feeling good enough to return to the starting lineup. With Ozuna out on Monday,
Bryan De La Cruz served as the designated hitter and went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in the 8-4 victory.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Justin Toscano
April 14, 2025
Atlanta Braves outfielder/designated hitter
Marcell Ozuna (leg) is out of the team's starting lineup on Monday against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Center due to a minor leg injury. However, manager Brian Snitker isn't too concerned.
Bryan De La Cruz will serve as the designated hitter and will bat fifth against Blue Jays left-hander
Easton Lucas for the series opener. It's good news that Ozuna's injury doesn't sound very serious, but fantasy managers will need to pull him from their lineups on Monday and check back to see if he's available to play in Game 2 of the series in Canada on Tuesday. The 28-year-old De La Cruz should be avoided in DFS lineups for Monday's slate because of his slow start in 2025. The Dominican outfielder has gone just 8-for-39 (.205) with no home runs, a stolen base and 16 strikeouts in his 42 plate appearances over 13 games.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Justin Toscano
April 11, 2025
Atlanta Braves designated hitter
Marcell Ozuna was Thursday night's hero for the Braves, going 3-for-5 and hitting a two-run, walk-off home run in the 11th inning of the team's 4-1 win. Ozuna jumped on an 0-1 slider from
Joe Ross and lined it 413 feet into the left-center field seats. The game didn't wrap up until almost 1:00 a.m. ET after a rain delay, but at least the fans who stayed went home happy after the Braves took two of three games from the Phillies and went 3-2 on their homestand after their disastrous road trip to start the season. Ozuna is hitting .316 (12-for-38) with two homers, seven RBI, 15 walks, and a .459 wOBA. He and the Braves will look to carry their momentum into their weekend series against the Rays in Tampa.
--Zach Thompson - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
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