Michael Harris back at CF and Dominic Smith at DH against Detroit Tigers

TL;DR

Michael Harris returns to center field for the Braves, with Dominic Smith at designated hitter against the Tigers. The Braves aim to leverage their strong offense against tough pitching from Detroit.

Key points

Michael Harris returns to CF for the Braves
Dominic Smith is at DH against the Tigers
Braves lead MLB with 5.72 runs scored per game
Braves face tough pitchers Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal, and Framber Valdez
Martin Pérez's performance is critical for the Braves' chances

Atlanta BravesDetroit Tigers

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 24: Dominic Smith #8 of the Atlanta Braves bats in the second inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Truist Park on April 24, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Atlanta Braves and their league leading offense are facing the Detroit Tigers having just won twenty games before the month of May for the first time in franchise history. The Braves lead MLB with 5.72 runs scored per game. To put that in perspective, if they continue to score this many runs per game it would be the second most in franchise history since MLB started playing 162 games. It would be more than the historic 2003 high octane offense, and just below the 2023 season where the Braves tied the record for most HRs in a season by a team. This offense will be tested in this series because the Braves are projected to face Casey Mize (2.51 ERA), two-time reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal (2.72 ERA), and new Tiger Framber Valdez (3.41 ERA). The Braves have already faced tough pitching this season, but not a gauntlet like this. The key for the offense will likely be to work counts and get to the bullpen as early as possible because the Tigers’ bullpen currently ranks in the bottom half of MLB in ERA, even with anchoring the back end. With Mize being a righty, the biggest question mark was whether would get the start in CF so that Dominic Smith could slot in at DH again. With the day off, it would make sense that Harris may be rested up enough and that would be rested to be behind the dish. On paper, tonight’s game is the one the Braves could do the most damage offensively, and they may need it with showing signs of upcoming regression to the mean, the offense may need to step up tonight. As predicted, Harris back at CF means Smith is at DH. Another interesting note is that Riley is still below Harris and Albies in the order. No player on the Braves has more at-bats against Mize than six. leads the team in at-bats and has made good of them with a HR, .500 average, and 1.625 OPS. Outside of Olson the rest of the team is pretty much a question mark. has spent a decent amount of time in the AL Central in his career so it should come as no surprise that a few of the Tigers have a decent number of at-bats against him. Four players have fourteen or more at-bats against him, and none have done more damage than . Torres has three HRs in his twenty-two at-bats against Martin Pérez which has resulted in a 1.087 OPS. Good news for the Braves is that their bullpen is the polar opposite of the Tigers, so if Martin Pérez can suppress the Tigers’ league average offense, then the Braves have a decent chance of pulling out a game one victory. First pitch is at 7:15 EDT.

Q&A

What is the significance of Michael Harris starting in CF for the Braves?

Michael Harris starting in center field is crucial as it allows Dominic Smith to take on the designated hitter role, optimizing the Braves' lineup against the Tigers' strong pitching.

How does the Braves' offense compare to their historical performance?

The Braves lead MLB with 5.72 runs scored per game, potentially positioning them for one of their highest-scoring seasons in franchise history if they maintain this pace.

Who are the key pitchers the Braves will face in the series against the Tigers?

The Braves will face Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal, and Framber Valdez, all of whom present significant challenges with their strong ERAs.

What impact does Martin Pérez have on the Braves' chances in the game?

If Martin Pérez can effectively suppress the Tigers' offense, the Braves have a strong chance of winning game one, given their superior bullpen performance.