Braves reshuffle with Dubón at shortstop and Smith at DH as they face Jacob Misiorowski

The Atlanta Braves are trying to stop an offensive slump, and they are doing it with a lineup tweak before opening the next chapter of their stretch against Jacob Misiorowski. In the matchup preview, Atlanta is expected to have Mauricio Dubón at shortstop, and to send Smith in at designated hitter, moves meant to give the order a different look against a pitcher described as baseball’s top performer right now.

Atlanta’s recent run of scoring issues is central to the urgency. The Braves have sputtered offensively in August, and the preview notes that only eight teams in MLB have scored fewer runs than Atlanta. That matters in the standings picture because, in a tight playoff race, run prevention is only part of the equation, and the margin for a low-scoring offense shrinks quickly.

The pitching challenge is not a small one. The preview frames Misiorowski as the best pitcher on the planet at present, and it positions the game as a test of whether Atlanta can find enough consistent offense to turn chances into runs. When a lineup is struggling, matchups like this can magnify the problems, especially if the hitters cannot sustain at-bats through the middle innings.

For Atlanta, putting Dubón at shortstop is also a report about how the team is trying to manage its infield defense and lineup construction at the same time. Shortstop is often a premium defensive spot, and it can also affect how teams shape their batting order, particularly if they are balancing contact, situational hitting, and lineup flexibility.

Smith getting the start as the designated hitter adds another layer. In MLB, the DH role is frequently used to maximize offensive matchups, either by inserting a hitter who better fits the platoon split or by creating a path to keep another bat in the lineup without altering the defensive alignment. In this case, the preview’s emphasis is that Atlanta needs a jolt, not just a role-based adjustment.

The stakes carry over beyond the single game. The preview specifically references the Philadelphia Phillies “creeping up” the standings, which gives Atlanta’s offensive struggles additional consequence. If Philadelphia continues to gain ground, games where Atlanta cannot score become bigger, because every run (or missed opportunity) has more weight in the end-of-season math.

Still, Atlanta’s task is narrow for this particular contest: crack the code against a pitcher whom the preview characterizes at the very top of the sport. The Braves’ watch items going forward are straightforward. Can the Dubón-at-SS and Smith-at-DH setup generate enough early offense, and can Atlanta keep its scoring chances alive long enough to avoid becoming a one-inning team against elite pitching?

If the Braves come up short, the questions will likely extend beyond this lineup day. The immediate concern will be whether the offense’s August decline is a function of personnel and roles that can be adjusted, or whether it reflects a deeper need for more consistent contact and run creation against top-end arms. Either way, the Braves are approaching this game with a clear message: the lineup has to produce, because the standings are not waiting.