The Atlanta Braves might have entered Saturday with the fourth-best document in baseball, however their current efficiency would counsel in any other case.
The Braves have misplaced 14 of their final 20 video games to slip behind the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers within the NL standings. In the meantime, the white-hot Phillies have been quickly gaining floor.
It doesn’t assist that the Braves have battled accidents and ineffectiveness all through the roster. Third baseman Austin Riley is within the midst of his worst main league season. The rotation has been battered all season. There are holes all through the roster; nevertheless, the Braves are inclined to discover a answer.
The Braves could also be busy forward of the Aug. 3 commerce deadline. Let’s take a look at three areas they could goal.
Atlanta Braves‘ largest wants on the commerce deadline
1. Discover a answer at shortstop
The Braves thought they’d a solution at shortstop when infielder Ha-seong Kim returned on a one-year, $20 million contract. That has not confirmed to be the case, as Kim missed the primary six weeks of the season after present process surgical procedure to restore a torn tendon in his proper center finger after he slipped on ice through the offseason. He was positioned again on the injured checklist on Saturday with irritation in the identical finger. Kim mustered solely 5 hits in his 82 plate appearances between these stints on the IL.
Whereas utility males Jorge Mateo and Mauricio Dubon have crammed in properly at quick, they’re extra worthwhile in a utility function. Because the Braves have a number of well-regarded prospects at quick and lately promoted infielder Jim Jarvis to the majors, they could solely want a stopgap possibility. If that’s the case, the Braves may discover the manufacturing they’ve been in search of at quick within the coming weeks.
2. Fortifying the rotation
The Braves have had 10 completely different pitchers make at the least one begin to date in 2026. 4 starters, Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenback, Joey Wentz and AJ Smith-Shawver, are on the IL. The Braves‘ accidents and basic ineffectiveness at the back of the rotation have led to desperation choices akin to placing Reynaldo Lopez again right into a beginning function.
The Braves want greater than one other back-of-the-rotation stopgap. They want a viable choice to pair with Chris Sale atop the rotation to supply a doubtlessly devastating 1-2 punch heading into the postseason. Because the Braves have a number of intriguing prospects of their system, they might land that second arm they want.
3. Including an influence bat in left
The Braves‘ plans in left discipline had been dealt an amazing blow earlier than the season started as Jurickson Profar was suspended for your complete 2026 season as a result of a second violation of the league’s substance abuse coverage. In his place, the Braves have been utilizing a platoon between Mike Yastrzemski and Eli White. That duo has not precisely set the world on hearth as Braves left fielders have mixed for a .625 OPS, twenty ninth within the majors.
There are potential improve choices. The Purple Sox have been seeking to stability out a left-handed hitting-heavy outfield, with Jarren Duran being the frequent topic of commerce rumors. Outfielder Taylor Ward might be a rental possibility ought to the Orioles resolve to promote. Including a left fielder may doubtlessly resolve their points at quick as properly, because the Braves may doubtlessly hand the place to Dubon or Mateo for the remainder of the season.
