The Atlanta Braves’ presence at next week’s All-Star game is light compared to last year’s festivities; eight last year compared to three this season. But Braves fans and management should not be surprised at this year’s selections.

Through the first half of the season, the Braves had one hitter (Marcell Ozuna) that was consistently great and two starting pitchers (Chris Sale and Reynaldo Lopez) that were dominant. It is no surprise that all three were chosen to participate in next week’s game.

What is also no surprise is that no other Brave deserved to be mentioned as All-Star participants. The Braves have been middling in second place for much of the first half of the season. As much as the team’s identity last year was centered around its powerful offense, this year’s team has underperformed at the plate.

Matt Olson has been unrecognizable at the plate, batting .237 through 91 games with just 13 homers and a team-leading 104 strikeouts. He didn’t deserve recognition.

Ozzie Albies’ batting average is a little better at .257, but he’s managed just eight homers and 44 RBIs. Orlando Arcia’s average sits right above the Mendoza Line at .206. His sparkling defense can’t make up for 70 strikeouts.

Austin Riley has gotten hot at the plate, but his average still sits at .259 with 80 strikeouts in 78 games.

With the lack of productivity at the plate from most of the Braves and injuries to Ronald Acuña Jr. and Michael Harris II, Ozuna deserves all the credit for keeping the Braves afloat; .296 average with 24 homers and 75 RBIs should propel the Braves designated hitter into the top 3 in the Most Valuable Player Award race through the season’s first half.

An argument could be made starting pitcher Max Fried deserved a selection. He is 7-4 with a 3.18 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. But there were many more starters in the National League that warranted consideration before Fried.

Jesse Chavez has been sparkling as a reliever, posting a microscopic 1.56 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. But seldom do long relievers obtain All-Star status, and Chavez didn’t this time.

The Braves will have minimal representation next week in Arlington, Texas, but they are the right Braves to be selected. They were the reason the Braves didn’t fall further in the National League East standings than they did; and by the way they’re still within striking distance of the first-place Philadelphia Phillies.

Sale is 12-3 with a 2.74 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 136 strikeouts. Lopez sports a 1.71 ERA and 7-2 record.

Congrats to this trio. They deserved it. No other Brave did.