Around The Big Leagues

As the Atlanta Braves put the finishing touches on a challenging 2025 season, how much impact will performance in the month of September influence their winter plans? Grant McAuley dives into that and sizes up some of the top performances for Atlanta down the stretch. In what can only be described as important offseason for Alex Anthopoulos, you'll hear from the Atlanta GM on a variety of topics. Plus, what should Atlanta be shopping for this winter to complete a revamped pitching staff? And is Raisel Iglesias making a case to return in 2026? You'll also hear from third baseman Austin Riley, who discusses the severity of his injury and surgery, disappointment of the 2025 performance, and what he needs to do to get back to his slugging ways. And Drake Baldwin's chase for Rookie of the Year may not feel like a sure thing, but recent history suggests the young catcher's chances are better than you might realize. From The Diamond airs live on 92-9 The Game in Atlanta on the weekend throughout baseball season

The Atlanta Braves were able to add an important piece back into their rotation as they play out the string on the 2025 season. Grant McAuley discusses some of the biggest stories from the week that was for the Braves, including Sale's return, Spencer Strider's positive steps, the dominance of rookie Hurston Waldrep, some reasons for optimism for the present and future of the offense, and much more. Special guest Ryan Spilborghs of Apple TV and SiriusXM joins to break down the Braves rough going in 2025, their weekend series against the Philadelphia Phillies, Kyle Schwarber's history making four-homer game and his case for National League MVP. From The Diamond airs live on 92-9 The Game in Atlanta on the weekend throughout baseball season. You can also subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode of the show and more great Braves coverage is available at FromTheDiamond.com.

The Atlanta Braves continue to battle the injury issues that have plagued them all season, but have at least seen some encouraging results in the month of August. Grant McAuley breaks down the stories of the week for the Braves, who finished off a 3-3 home stand and now get set for a 10-game road trip. While Chris Sale is readying to return to the Braves, a trio of players were officially ruled out for the remainder of the season. Third baseman Austin Riley underwent season-ending surgery while injured starters Spencer Schwellenbach and Reynaldo Lopez were ruled out from appearing in another game in 2025. You’ll also hear some conversations with various Braves from the week that was. Schwellenbach provides an update on his progress in rehabbing from the fractured elbow. Joey Wentz shares what it’s been like to get second life in rotation as a big leaguer. Newcomers Cal Quantrill and Jake Fraley discuss joining Atlanta and where they fit on the roster. All of that and a visit with Dan Hayes of The Athletic

The Atlanta Braves have suddenly started scoring runs. The result has been a run of success and their longest winning streak of the season. Grant McAuley discusses some of the reasons why the Braves are finding some late-season success. There is no hotter hitter in the National League than Michael Harris II, but just how good has he been? On the flip side, while some young arms are making an impression, Spencer Strider is struggling to find consistency. What exactly is going wrong for the former MLB strikeout leader, and can it be fixed? All of that plus the return of Ronald Acuña Jr. and why he should be playing, and injury updates on Chris Sale and Austin Riley. This week's special interviews include a visit with Stephen Tolbert of Hammer Territory to dissect the seasons of Harris and Strider as well as the big winter to come. You'll also hear a conversation with former Braves outfielder Ryan Klesko, who reflects on the 1995 World Series championship. From The Diamond airs live on 92-9 The Game in Atlan

The Atlanta Braves may not be able to climb out of the hole they've dug and make a run this season, but there are still boxes to check before the end of September. Grant McAuley delves into what the Braves can focus on over the final 7 weeks of the season. From getting some key players healthy and back on the field, including Chris Sale and Ronald Acuña Jr., to sizing up some young players who could factor into 2026, there are still things for the Braves to key in on. You'll hear from Sale on his impending return and young gun Hurston Waldrep, who has impressed in two recent appearances. This week's special interviews include a visit with Craig Mish of Sports Grid and FanDuel Sports Florida to discuss the surging Miami Marlins and what this season means for a young club that hopes to be on the rise. We'll also revisit a trade that shocked Braves fans in 1990 as Atlanta legend Dale Murphy explains how he ended up Philadelphia some 35 years ago. From The Diamond airs live on 92-9 The Game in Atlanta on Sunda

The Atlanta Braves stood idly by at the Trade Deadline. Though they had some chips, the team opted to hold and prepare instead to close out 2025 and reassess this winter. Grant McAuley discusses the lack of movement for Atlanta at the deadline, the onus it places on the winter, and a host of other topics from the week that was – including injuries suffered by Ronald Acuña Jr. and Austin Riley, a shining performance from a top pitching prospect pressed into action, some roster shuffling to fortify the rotation and more. You’ll hear the comments of Braves GM and President of Baseball Operations Alex Anthopoulos, who shared his thoughts on the deadline with the media on Thursday. Hammer Territory’s Brad Rowland joins the show to break down the deadline fallout in Atlanta, while Scott Braun of Foul Territory helps size up one of the busiest trade weeks in MLB history. From The Diamond airs live on 92-9 The Game in Atlanta on Sundays throughout baseball season. You can also subscribe wherever you get your podca

After falling further out of the race following a string of series losses to open the second half, the Atlanta Braves are on track for a 90-loss season. Grant McAuley discusses the continued struggles of the team, the underperformance from the lineup, the crippling injuries to the starting rotation, and a bullpen that is buckling under the pressure of covering too many innings. As Atlanta plays out the string, bigger conversations await on the other side of the trade deadline and over the winter. On a brighter note, the Hall of Fame induction weekend saw five all-time greats immortalized in Cooperstown. You'll hear from each of those men plus an in-depth conversation with Hall of Fame President Josh Rawitch. From The Diamond airs live on 92-9 The Game in Atlanta on Sundays throughout baseball season. You can also subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode of the show and more great Braves coverage is available at FromTheDiamond.com.

The Atlanta Braves unfortunately picked up right where they left off, opening the second half with a disappointing series loss to the New York Yankees. Grant McAuley sizes up where the Braves find themselves after stumbling to start the second half, the unusual place the club finds itself in as the trade deadline approaches, some signs of life for a pair of struggling players, the impressive right arm of Ronald Acuña Jr., strong hitting from the Atlanta catching duo leading to a lineup change and much more. Special guest Gaurav Vedak of Baseball Prospectus joins the show to recap the MLB Draft for the Braves, who strayed from their usual strategy of loading up on pitchers and instead focused on some impressive position player selections. That plus a look at the effect this class could have on the Braves minor league system. From The Diamond airs live on 92-9 The Game in Atlanta on Sundays throughout baseball season. You can also subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode of the show and more

The Atlanta Braves find themselves in yet another tailspin after being swept at home by the Baltimore Orioles, but this bender might just spell the end of their hopes of turning their season around with ample time to dig out of the hole they find themselves in. Grant McAuley discusses yet another challenging week as the series losses are once again piling up for the Braves. Not only are the losses mounting on the field, but Spencer Schwellenbach followed Chris Sale to the 60-day injured list, leaving Atlanta devoid of enough capable starters to field a rotation -- something that had been a strength for the club. Add that to the continued offensive struggles and the Braves are once again sinking in the standings and unable to put together enough offense to win consistently. Nick Green of FanDuel Sports joins the show to discuss the woes of the Atlanta lineup, how it went from one of the best in baseball to one of the worst in under two years, whether or not a new hitting coach with a new message and new phil

The Atlanta Braves passed the mathematical halfway point over the weekend, but it was in the midst of yet another winnable series slipping through their collective fingers. Grant McAuley discusses the biggest stories and headlines from the week that was for the Braves, a week that saw them lose the momentum they'd worked so hard to build with head-to-head success against the formerly first place New York Mets by losing series to the Miami Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies. The offensive woes continue to plague the club, while both the starting rotation and bullpen are under more stress than ever to keep the Braves in games. Now seven games under .500 and staring at major deficits in both the division and Wild Card races, the Braves will attempt to make the most of their final two weeks before the All-Star break as they face the Los Angeles Angles, Baltimore Orioles, Athletics, and St. Louis Cardinals over the next 12 games. That stretch could ultimately determine what Atlanta's strategy will be for the trad

The Atlanta Braves took a significant step toward turning their season around by sweeping the New York Mets only to stumble in a series loss to the Miami Marlins over the weekend and receive crushing injury news on ace Chris Sale. With another showdown with the Mets beginning Monday and a series with the Philadelphia Phillies to follow, can the Braves rise to the occasion? Grant McAuley discusses the week that was and the pivotal week ahead, Sale’s injury prognosis, and where the rotation goes from here. Meanwhile, Ronald Acuña Jr.’s transcendent play has not been enough to spark an Atlanta lineup with too many holes. Can Jurickson Profar’s return help turn things around? The Braves bullpen is still a work in progress, but has been through its fair share of challenges in 2025. Relievers Pierce Johnson and Dylan Dodd share some insights in this week’s conversations from the clubhouse. We’ll also take a trip around the big leagues to cover some heat between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. Chri

While the Atlanta Braves have won back-to-back series, the stretch of baseball to close the month of June could go a long way toward telling the tale of their season. Grant McAuley discusses the recent happenings for the Braves, who finally snapped a streak of six consecutive series losses but now face their biggest challenge -- seven games with the first-place New York Mets in a string of 13 straight games against the NL East. Buried in the division race by 13 games and lagging behind in the Wild Card standings, where Atlanta finds itself on the other side of the next four series may chart the course for the remainder of the 2025 campaign. We'll also celebrate Father's Day with a special conversation between father and son as Fred McAuley joins the show to share some baseball memories. That plus a trip around the big leagues for some of the biggest stories of the week in Major League Baseball with special guest Mike Ferrin of MLB Network Radio. From The Diamond airs live on 92-9 The Game in Atlanta on Sun

The Atlanta Braves' challenging season took another turn for the worst as their offense continues to struggle to find consistency and the one-run losses are piling up at an alarming pace. Grant McAuley discusses a strange and unfortunate week for the Braves that saw them suffer one of their worst losses in franchise history amidst a string of close games that aren't going their way. We'll cover an unexpected coaching change as former manager Fredi Gonzalez takes over as third base coach, a bitterly short reunion with former All-Star Craig Kimbrel, and a host of other issues Atlanta is currently facing. You'll hear from Braves third baseman Austin Riley on how the club is navigating its challenges overall and at the plate as well as a visit with outfielder Eli White. And we'll examine the damage this most recent slide has done to the Braves' playoff odds and hear some insights from GM Alex Anthopoulos on the state of the team and the injury DH Marcell Ozuna is playing through. Anthony Castrovince of MLB.co

After showing signs of life when the month began, the Atlanta Braves hit the skids and dropped in the standings as the month of May came to a close. Even with superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. and ace righty Spencer Strider back, the club has been unable to maintain its momentum and is once again scratching and clawing for wins after dropping back below .500. Grant McAuley discusses the week that was for the Braves, the struggles of the offense both individually and collectively, the overall quality of the pitching for the month, and yet another season-ending injury as AJ Smith-Shawver's promising campaign was cut short. We'll also take a look at some disappointing statistical trends for the Braves' lineup which has undermined the quality of pitching they've received dating back over a year. Rich Waltz of AppleTV joins the show to discuss Atlanta's weekend set against the Boston Red Sox, the latest in a line of disappointing series losses of late, and share some other insights on where the Braves find themselves

With Ronald Acuña Jr. back in action, the Atlanta Braves are hoping they are primed to finally take off in 2025. Grant McAuley discusses a busy yet disappointing week for the club, which despite getting both Acuña and Spencer Strider back, was handed back-to-back series losses by the Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres. We'll dive into the trends and stories behind the performance of the team and what areas need to improve to help Atlanta regain momentum. Special guest Brandon Gaudin of FanDuel Sports Network stops by to chat about the Braves at the Memorial Day checkpoint, the return of Acuña, the trajectory of the club and much more. You'll also hear from Atlanta general manager Alex Anthopoulos on the struggles of closer Raisel Iglesias and others from his recent appearance on 92-9 The Game's "Steakhouse." We take a trip around the big leagues to discuss the historically bad Colorado Rockies, the Juan Soto drama for the New York Mets, the trade rumors swirling around Pittsburgh Pirates star pitche

As they continue to win series, the Atlanta Braves are building some steady momentum as they prepare to welcome back a pair of star players very soon. Grant McAuley discusses the recent goings on for the Braves, the sustained winning, the key performers, and the impending returns of Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuña Jr., both of whom could make a profound impact on the club's trajectory the rest of the way. Meanwhile, the baseball world was surprised by the long-debated reinstatement of all-time hits leader Pete Rose from the permanently ineligible list. What went into Commissioner Rob Manfred's decision, was it finally time or should Rose still be on the outside looking in, and what are his Hall of Fame chances? Jayson Stark of The Athletic joins to discuss that and more. From The Diamond airs live on 92-9 The Game in Atlanta on Sundays throughout baseball season. You can also subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode of the show and more great Braves coverage is available at FromTheDiamond.c

A disappointing weekend for the Atlanta Braves saw their quest to reach .500 denied yet again. That mirrors the club's struggle to find consistency at the plate and rise in the standings. Grant McAuley discusses the week that was for the Atlanta Braves, who are getting the pitching and defense they need but still searching for runs on an almost daily basis. A deep dive on the lineup yields some disappointing numbers. Can the return of Ronald Acuña Jr. be the catalyst for a collective turnaround? How soon will that happen. While the pitching staff continues to shine, Atlanta could get a boost from the return of Spencer Strider by week's end. You'll hear from Strider on his progress in recovery from a hamstring strain as well as two key arms helping to carry the weight for the Braves. Bryce Elder and AJ Smith-Shawver discuss what's led to their success in 2025. A trip around the big leagues will cover a real strange turn of events for Red Sox slugger Rafael Devers, managers being shown the door, history-maki

With three consecutive series wins. the Atlanta Braves are finally starting to put some things together after a slow start to the 2025 season. Grant McAuley covers the week that was for the Braves, the offensive surge that is powering a strong run for the club., some key contributors to that effort -- including at least one surprising name, and some encouraging statistical trends that indicate the club could be breaking out of the early doldrums. Hear from Braves ace Spencer Strider, who returned after a one-year absence only to be placed back on the injured list when he strained a hamstring while playing catch in the outfield. Strider shares his reaction and discusses the severity of his injury. We'll also take a deeper dive into the frustrating statistics for the Atlanta pitching staff. Special guest Kelsey Wingert-Lynch joins the show to provide a preview for the Colorado Rockies, a team that has already been put through the ringer in 2025 but is hoping to see some of its young player take a step forwar

The Atlanta Braves suffered through a disappointing road trip only to return to Truist Park and complete a sweep of the Minnesota Twins over the weekend. Is that enough to swing the momentum after a slow start to the season? Grant McAuley recaps the week that was for the Braves, an eventful week that included the return of Spencer Strider, some long-awaited good swings from a number of Atlanta sluggers, the arrival of Alex Verdugo and some less-than-stellar baserunning that set off a firestorm of controversy on social media. Hear from Strider, new Braves lead-off man Verdugo and shortstop Nick Allen shares how the first few weeks of the season have treated him as Atlanta's de facto starting shortstop. All of that, a trip around the big leagues and a visit with Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson on this edition of the show! From The Diamond airs live on 92-9 The Game in Atlanta on Sundays throughout baseball season. You can also subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode of the show

The Atlanta Braves won some games and showed some signs of life this week, but their collective woes at the plate remain a stumbling block in the early going. Grant McAuley breaks down an eventful week for the Braves that was filled with both highs and lows. Some dramatic comeback wins and a series victory over the Philadelphia Phillies provided a glimmer of hope, but the Braves remain one of the lowest scoring teams in baseball. There were some other indicators that could bode well for a few key Braves as discussed on this week’s show. The returns of Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuña Jr. should help the club in the coming weeks, but it’ll take a group effort to find the winning formula. Meanwhile, Spencer Schwellenbach has been a highlight of the young season. Grant caught up with several Braves teammates to discuss what makes Schwellenbach so successful. On the trip around the big leagues, Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. became the latest $500 million man, but who’s next in line? Are the Pit