The Atlanta Braves could have entered Saturday with the fourth-best report in baseball, however their current efficiency would recommend 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; nonetheless, the Braves are inclined to discover a answer.
The Braves could also be busy forward of the Aug. 3 commerce deadline. Let us take a look at three areas they could goal.
Atlanta Braves’ greatest wants on the commerce deadline
1. Discover a answer at shortstop
The Braves thought that they had 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 back on the injured list 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 effectively at quick, they’re extra invaluable in a utility position. 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 choice. In that case, the Braves might discover the manufacturing they’ve been in search of at quick within the coming weeks.
2. Fortifying the rotation
The Braves have had 10 totally different pitchers make at the least one begin so far in 2026. 4 starters, Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenback, Joey Wentz and AJ Smith-Shawver, are on the IL. The Braves’ accidents and basic ineffectiveness behind the rotation have led to desperation choices similar to placing Reynaldo Lopez again right into a beginning position.
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 offer a probably devastating 1-2 punch heading into the postseason. Because the Braves have a number of intriguing prospects of their system, they may land that second arm they want.
3. Including an influence bat in left
The Braves’ plans in left area had been dealt an amazing blow earlier than the season started as Jurickson Profar was suspended for your complete 2026 season resulting from 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 Crimson 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 could possibly be a rental choice ought to the Orioles determine to promote. Including a left fielder might probably clear up their points at quick as effectively, because the Braves might probably hand the place to Dubon or Mateo for the remainder of the season.
