The Atlanta Braves might have entered Saturday with the fourth-best report 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 us take a look at three areas they might goal.
Atlanta Braves’ largest 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 in the course of 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 properly at brief, they’re extra worthwhile in a utility function. Because the Braves have a number of well-regarded prospects at brief and lately promoted infielder Jim Jarvis to the majors, they might solely want a stopgap possibility. In that case, the Braves might discover the manufacturing they’ve been in search of at brief within the coming weeks.
2. Fortifying the rotation
The Braves have had 10 totally different pitchers make at the least one begin to this point in 2026. 4 starters, Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenback, Joey Wentz and AJ Smith-Shawver, are on the IL. The Braves’ accidents and normal ineffectiveness behind the rotation have led to desperation choices reminiscent of 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 offer a doubtlessly 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 affect bat in left
The Braves’ plans in left area have been dealt an incredible blow earlier than the season started as Jurickson Profar was suspended for the complete 2026 season attributable to 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 trying 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 determine to promote. Including a left fielder might doubtlessly remedy their points at brief as properly, because the Braves might doubtlessly hand the place to Dubon or Mateo for the remainder of the season.
