In an effort to address their recent struggles, the Atlanta Braves held a team meeting before Tuesday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. Interestingly, Manager Brian Snitker was left out of the meeting, according to The Athletic's David O'Brien, indicating a potentially concerning situation within the Braves clubhouse.

The Braves, who have been on a three-game losing streak, find themselves underwhelming two-thirds into the 2024 season. After a promising start with a 19-9 record in April, the team has gone 35-36 since then. Their performance has resulted in them trailing the Philadelphia Phillies by 8 1/2 games in the National League East division standings as of Tuesday.

Despite the struggles, the Braves are still holding on to the top NL wild card spot with a record of 54-45. However, they have fallen short compared to their performances over the past two seasons, where they achieved over 100 wins each year.

One major setback for the Braves has been the injuries plaguing their roster. Ace starter Spencer Strider and 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. were both lost in consecutive months (April and May) due to injury. Recently, Atlanta placed star pitcher Max Fried and second baseman Ozzie Albies on the injured list, further adding to their health problems.

In addition to the injuries, several key players in the Braves' lineup have been underperforming this season. Matt Olson and Austin Riley, who had impressive home run totals last season with 54 and 37 respectively, have only managed to hit 13 homers each so far. Marcell Ozuna remains a standout, enjoying a career year with 28 home runs and a .980 OPS, being the only Braves regular with an OPS+ above 120.

Looking ahead, the Braves face a crucial four-game series against the New York Mets starting on Thursday. The Mets are closely trailing Atlanta by just three games in the wild-card race, making the upcoming series a pivotal one for both teams.

As the Braves attempt to right the ship and get back on track, it is evident that addressing the issues within the team has become a priority. The team meeting serves as a reflection of the urgency to turn their fortunes around amidst a frustrating season characterized by injuries and underperformances.