Braves Split Series with Diamondbacks After Dominant Start

Atlanta's offense explodes early but can't sustain momentum in desert showdown

Apr. 6, 2026 at 12:40am

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The Atlanta Braves got off to a roaring start in their four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, winning the first two games convincingly. However, the Braves were unable to complete the series sweep, dropping the final two games to settle for a split. Despite the disappointing finish, there were plenty of positives for the Braves to build on as they head to Anaheim to face the Angels.

Why it matters

The Braves' series against the Diamondbacks provided an early test for the team, which is looking to bounce back from a tough 2025 season. While they couldn't quite close out the series win, the Braves showed flashes of their offensive firepower and got strong pitching performances, suggesting they could be poised for a rebound in 2026.

The details

The Braves opened the series with a 17-2 blowout win, sparked by a huge fifth inning. They followed that up with a 2-0 victory in a pitchers' duel. However, the Diamondbacks bounced back to win the final two games, 2-1 and 6-5 in extra innings, to earn the split. Despite the disappointing finish, the Braves got encouraging outings from starters Reynaldo López and Bryce Elder, and saw continued production from sluggers Matt Olson and Drake Baldwin.

  • The series took place from April 2-5, 2026.
  • The Braves won the series opener 17-2 on April 2.
  • Atlanta took the second game 2-0 on April 3.
  • Arizona won 2-1 on April 4.
  • The Diamondbacks won the series finale 6-5 in extra innings on April 5.

The players

Matt Olson

The Braves' first baseman hit a solo home run in the series opener and added another homer in the second game.

Ozzie Albies

The Braves' second baseman hit a go-ahead solo home run in the eighth inning of the second game to lead Atlanta to victory.

Reynaldo López

The Braves' starting pitcher tossed five strong innings in the series opener, helping the team cruise to a 17-2 win.

Bryce Elder

The Braves' starting pitcher went seven innings and struck out eight batters in the third game, but was saddled with two unearned runs in a 2-1 loss.

Drake Baldwin

The Braves' designated hitter hit a home run in the first game of the series and drove in the game-tying run in the ninth inning of the series finale.

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What they’re saying

“You always take a four-game series split on the road.”

— Demetrius Bell, Author

“It's a shame because Elder was once again in very good form on the mound — those two unearned runs would be the only blemish on his record for the day as he went seven innings and struck out eight batters. Elder certainly deserved better than what he got as the Braves were unable to really figure out old friend Michael Soroka and the rest of Arizona's pitching staff on the day.”

— Demetrius Bell, Author

What’s next

The Braves will look to build on their strong start when they head to Anaheim to take on the Angels in a three-game series starting on April 6. Atlanta will be hoping to exorcise their demons from 2025, when they struggled mightily against California teams, winning just one of 13 games played in the Golden State.

The takeaway

While the Braves couldn't quite complete the series sweep, there were plenty of positives to take away from their four-game set with the Diamondbacks. The team's offense showed its potential in the early games, and the pitching staff, led by Reynaldo López and Bryce Elder, delivered strong outings. If the Braves can build on these performances, they could be poised for a bounce-back season and a return to the playoffs.