The Braves began the second half with a 15-1 beatdown of the Rangers. It’s their second-highest scoring game of the season and stretched their NL East lead over the Phillies back to three games.
Atlanta’s lineup has picked back up this month after they were easily the worst offensive team in the league in June. They were dead last in runs, homers, and all three slash categories. It was a bizarre few weeks for a club that was second in scoring (behind only the Nationals) through the end of May.
While they seem to have gotten back on track, that ugly showing last month could impact the front office’s deadline approach. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that Atlanta’s early focus has been concentrated more on the offense than on starting pitching. That’s certainly not to say the Braves won’t add a starter, but Rosenthal suggests they’ll take the next couple weeks to evaluate their internal options behind Chris Sale while monitoring the injury progressions of Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach.
The Braves will get an offensive boost when Ronald Acuña Jr. returns from the left hamstring strain that has cost him five weeks. Skipper Walt Weiss told Mark Bowman of MLB.com this afternoon that the five-time All-Star, who is on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett, could be back within the next week.
While Acuña hasn’t played at his usual level this season, he’ll obviously return to an everyday right field role. Atlanta is also without Mike Yastrzemski, Ha-Seong Kim and Sean Murphy — none of whom have contributed much this season. Yastrzemski shouldn’t need too long to recover from elbow inflammation. Kim is dealing with inflammation in his surgically repaired right middle finger, while Murphy has been down since May with a broken finger of his own.
Yastrzemski has a slightly underwhelming .230/.321/.365 batting line in 262 plate appearances. He needs a right-handed hitting platoon partner even when he’s going well. Mauricio Dubón has been the everyday left fielder in his absence. Jim Jarvis and Jorge Mateo are splitting the shortstop work with Kim sidelined. They’re probably reluctant to turn that position back to Kim regardless, as he hit .068 without an extra-base knock in 27 games between IL stints.
The Braves could look outside the organization for help at left field or shortstop. Dominic Smith’s bat has tanked over the last two months, meaning Yastrzesmki could take some designated hitter reps if they acquire an outfielder. Dubón is capable of handling a regular shortstop role, as he did at the beginning of the season, but is most valuable as a multi-position player.
That could include some playing time at third base, where Austin Riley has struggled all season. He’s hitting .210/.290/.339 with a 29% strikeout rate across 390 plate appearances. Riley still has plus bat speed, but he’s chasing more often and not barreling balls up at anywhere near his usual level. He’d also underperformed late last year while dealing with a core injury that required season-ending surgery.
Riley is signed through 2032 on what has become an underwater contract. It’s unlikely the Braves will trade for a third baseman on another huge deal (e.g. Matt Chapman, Bo Bichette). They could inquire on someone like Houston’s Isaac Paredes or San Francisco’s Casey Schmitt, both of whom can play third base while factoring in at other positions. There aren’t many clear shortstop trade candidates. Atlanta could inquire on the Yankees’ Anthony Volpe or try to land a multi-positional type like Minnesota’s Brooks Lee or Texas’ Ezequiel Duran.Any of those teams might require MLB bullpen help to consider a trade when they’re all in the AL playoff picture.
