The Atlanta Braves brought in two familiar faces that they hope will raise the spirits in a clubhouse ravaged by injuries .
Less than 24 hours before the MLB trade deadline, the Braves acquired outfielder Jorge Soler and reliever Luke Jackson from the San Francisco Giants . Both players played integral roles on Atlanta’s championship-winning team in 2021. Soler won World Series MVP.
Perhaps the deadline additions will help revive good vibes. Long before the Braves reached the trade deadline, Atlanta lost arguably its best pitcher and hitter for the season. From a formal team meeting to exploring the powers of positive thinking, players have desperately looked for ways to pick up the pieces and salvage the season.
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Right-hander Spencer Strider underwent internal brace surgery in April to repair his damaged right UCL. He made two starts before the operation. One month later, reigning National League MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. suffered a torn ACL - the outfielder’s second such ailment in less than three years.
Former National League Rookie of the Year Michael Harris has been sidelined since June 14 with a Grade 2 hamstring strain, while second baseman Ozzie Albies and starting pitcher Max Fried landed on the Injured List earlier this month with a left wrist fracture and left forearm neuritis, respectively. Most recently, right-hander Reynaldo Lopez exited his start on Sunday after pitching three innings with right forearm tightness.
“You just got to remain positive. Unfortunately injuries are part of the game,” third baseman Austin Riley exclusively told Mirror Sports U.S. “You obviously don't want it to be as extensive as it's been this year with the amount of injuries.
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“But the way I look at it, nobody's going to feel sorry for us. We still got to go out there and play baseball, and try to put our best foot forward and compete as hard as we can each day.”
The shorthanded Braves have staggered out of the All-Star break, at one point losing six consecutive games to start the second half. Following an 8-4 loss to the New York Mets last Friday, Atlanta fell out of the first National League wild card spot, but reclaimed the position with back-to-back wins the ensuing days.
Few can blame the Braves (56-49) for failing to replicate their 100-plus win seasons from the past two years in the absence of many of their star players. But several of Atlanta’s healthy cornerstones are also underperforming, adding another wrinkle to the team’s rollercoaster campaign.
First baseman Matt Olson and Riley haven’t contributed the same power output as they did last season, hitting a combined 29 home runs this year after totaling 91 long balls in 2023. Shortstop Orlando Arcia (.221 batting average, .612 OPS) and outfielder Adam Duvall (.188, .587 OPS) are additionally mired in brutal stretches at the plate.
Ahead of last Tuesday’s game versus the Cincinnati Reds - the contest was later postponed - Braves players held a team meeting without manager Brian Snitker in an attempt to right the ship.
“We just felt that it was going to happen regardless. We had the All-Star break, so that [meeting] was something where we were just looking to reconnect,” center fielder Jarred Kelenic told Mirror Sports U.S.
“We got two months left to go. So, we just wanted to meet together, no different than family stuff. We're a family in this clubhouse, so we want to make sure we're all on the same page moving forward.”
The Braves are well aware that there’s still plenty of baseball left to play, but time is running out to catch the Philadelphia Phillies, who have a 8.5 game cushion in the National League East. The Mets, meanwhile, sit just half a game back of Atlanta for the first NL Wild Card spot.
Regardless of whether or not the Braves win the division - a feat they’ve accomplished each of the last six seasons - Atlanta still has the pieces in place to make a deep run in the postseason.
All-Stars Chris Sale, Lopez and Fried form a formidable trio atop the Braves starting rotation, while Atlanta’s deep bullpen leads the NL with a 3.03 ERA and features four relievers with sub-2.50 ERAs - tied for the most in MLB (min. 25 games played).
“We've got a lot of good players on this team,” Riley said. “Obviously our pitching has been really great and defense as well. We have the depth on the team to swing it as well.
“We just got to stay healthy. I think if we can stay healthy and get our bats going, I would put ourselves up against anybody.”
Reinforcements will be on the way in the ensuing weeks. Fried and Harris are progressing well in their recovery, with each expected to return in mid-August. Albies is slated to come back in mid-September, while Lopez is considered day-to-day.
“You want to get all your guys back,” Duvall told Mirror Sports U.S. “You want to be 100% going into that part of the season. That way you can try and finish strong and make a push for the postseason.”
When back to full strength - or as close as possible to it - Atlanta’s stacked lineup has the makings of a dangerous postseason threat. Should the Braves catch fire down the stretch, few opponents will likely want to face them come playoffs.
“Taking ‘21 for example, when we won [the World Series], it's just about getting hot at the right time,” Riley said. “That’s the goal, that's the hope, just to get hot at the right time.”
Many players on the Braves active roster know all too well what it’s like to face a team playing their best baseball in October. After winning NL East titles the last two years, Atlanta was swiftly booted out of the playoffs by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2022 and 2023 NLDS.
“The last couple years we ran into a team that was extremely hot. They were hitting well, they were pitching well, they were playing defense well for back-to-back years,” catcher Travis d'Arnaud told Mirror Sports U.S.
“At that time of the year it’s not the team that has the best record, it’s more about who’s the hottest team, and the last two years we got beat [by that team].”
How confident are these Braves that they’ll be able to make a deep run in the playoffs? “Very confident,” d'Arnaud said with a wide grin.
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