Braves fans, it looks like "Money Mike" is sitting again.
Michael Harris II remains out of the starting lineup for Friday night's series opener against the Colorado Rockies, marking the second straight game he's been sidelined. The Braves had planned to use the talented center fielder primarily as a designated hitter during this nine-game road trip to let his lingering quad injury heal, but he'll start the trip on the bench instead. He did manage a pinch-hit appearance in Sunday's loss to the Tigers.
With Harris out, Mauricio Dubon slides into center field and bats fifth, while Eli White gets the start in left field hitting seventh. The lineup shuffle also sees Austin Riley dropped to sixth, and Jorge Mateo taking shortstop and batting ninth. Behind the plate, Jonah Heim starts and hits eighth, with Drake Baldwin getting a day as the designated hitter.
On the mound, the Braves send out their starter, and they'll be facing Rockies left-hander Jose Quintana. History favors Atlanta here: Quintana has struggled mightily against the Braves over his career, posting a 4-6 record with a 6.39 ERA in 11 starts—his second-worst against any team. His 1.740 WHIP against Atlanta is actually his worst against any opponent.
That said, his most recent start against the Braves in 2025 (with the Brewers) was solid: six innings, three runs, seven hits, seven strikeouts, and no walks.
Some Braves hitters haven't fared well against Quintana. Ronald Acuña Jr. is just 3-for-19 (.158) with a solo homer, Matt Olson is 6-for-27 (.222) with 11 strikeouts, and Harris himself is 3-for-16 (.188) with a double.
But there's a bright spot: Ozzie Albies has been a Quintana killer. He's 9-for-19 (.474) with three homers and two doubles, good for a ridiculous 1.553 OPS. Given his recent hot streak, this could be the perfect matchup for Albies to keep mashing.
The Rockies counter with their standard lineup against right-handers, featuring Edouard Julien at the top. For Braves fans hoping to see Harris back in action, it'll be a waiting game as the team prioritizes his long-term health over short-term production.