Sean Murphy hits seventh as Kim returns for Braves finale
Sean Murphy will hit seventh and Ha-Seong Kim returns to the starting lineup as the Atlanta Braves close their series against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday at Truist Park. The shift elevates Murphy above the eighth or ninth spots since rejoining from the injured list, while Kim is back after a rest day as Tyler Mahle starts. Atlanta looks to complete a sweep during a six-game winning streak.
Key Takeaways
- Sean Murphy moves to the seventh spot for the Rockies series finale after mostly batting eighth or ninth since his IL return.
- Ha-Seong Kim rejoins the lineup at shortstop following a scheduled rest after four consecutive games in the order.
- Michael Harris II returns to cleanup, Mauricio Dubon plays left field, and Mike Yastrzemski gets a day off.
- Tyler Mahle takes the mound for Atlanta against a Colorado club with Ryan Ritter at shortstop and Hunter Goodman at DH.
- The first-place Braves enter the finale on a six-game winning streak with a 5.5-game NL East lead.
Why Did Sean Murphy Move Up to Seventh?
Murphy made his season debut in the seventh spot but has largely hit eighth or ninth since his most recent reactivation from the injured list, according to Battery Power. The Sunday order slots Murphy behind Michael Harris II, who moves back to cleanup.
The arrangement creates a lefty-followed-by-lefty sequence toward the top of the order—a pattern the Braves had begun avoiding after dropping the first two games of their series against the Milwaukee Brewers last week. Elevating Murphy is part of reshuffling the middle of the card for the finale.
What Lineup Changes Did the Braves Make?
Beyond Murphy's move, Mauricio Dubon shifts to left field while Mike Yastrzemski gets what the club described as a day off on the bench. Ha-Seong Kim returns at shortstop after sitting out Saturday's 2-1 comeback win, when Dubon started at short and contributed a key hit in the eighth inning.
For Colorado, Hunter Goodman gets a day off from catching and will serve as the designated hitter instead. Ryan Ritter takes over at shortstop for just his fourth start of the 2026 season. The Rockies entered the weekend tied with the Los Angeles Angels for MLB's worst record at 52-82.
Where Does Ha-Seong Kim Stand After His Recent Hot Stretch?
Kim's return follows a brief but memorable surge. He delivered a walk-off single against the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 27, then started on August 28—his first start in 20 days—and went 1-for-3 with a stolen base in a 1-0 win. He started again on August 29 before resting on Saturday.
Despite the highlight moments, Kim's overall 2026 line remains well below his career norms. He entered the weekend batting roughly .084 to .088 with seven hits, five RBIs, and two stolen bases across 33 to 34 games after signing a one-year, $20 million deal with Atlanta. His spot in the order still signals the Braves want his defense and baserunning in meaningful games down the stretch.
How Are the Braves Positioning for October?
Atlanta enters the finale riding a six-game winning streak and holding first place in the National League East. The club improved to 81-55 after Saturday's victory, sitting 5.5 games ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies, according to StarNews Korea. Right-hander Tyler Mahle gets the start as the Braves pursue a sweep of Colorado.
Rockies hitters have limited history against Mahle—49 combined plate appearances with a .399 wOBA but a .290 xwOBA, per Battery Power. Atlanta will hope that gap holds as Murphy, Kim, and the reshuffled order try to extend the streak. For more trending coverage, visit our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub.