Walt Weiss Commits Sean Murphy to at Least Half of Braves' Remaining Starts

Sean Murphy is set to see a meaningful uptick in playing time behind the plate, per Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman). Manager Walt Weiss indicated that Murphy will start at least half of the Braves' remaining regular season games at catcher — a notable shift in how Atlanta plans to deploy its catching tandem down the stretch.

What Weiss is reportedly weighing

Per Bowman's report, the thinking behind the increased workload runs in a few directions. Consistent playing time is expected to help Murphy's offensive production, and the Braves are apparently treating a recent double from Murphy as an encouraging sign. On the other side of the ledger, keeping Murphy in the lineup more regularly would allow the other catcher, Baldwin, to spend time at DH — a way to keep his legs fresher as the schedule tightens. Weiss also cited Murphy's standing as one of the better defensive catchers in the game as part of the rationale.

What remains unconfirmed

The report does not specify an exact game-by-game breakdown beyond the "at least half" threshold, and this is Weiss indicating a plan — not a formal roster announcement. How the split actually plays out will depend on matchups, health, and the usual variables that make any manager's stated intentions a working draft rather than a contract.

The broader Atlanta picture

The catching decision lands against a backdrop of a Braves club navigating some real roster uncertainty. Spencer Schwellenbach's return odds have reportedly lengthened with no update on his throwing program, and questions about rotation depth have followed the club out of the trade deadline. In that context, getting more out of Murphy — both offensively and defensively — carries some operational weight for a team trying to stay sharp into October.