The Atlanta Braves are comfortably ahead in the NL Wild Card race, but it’s difficult to envision a more dismal season to date. In 2023, the Braves were riding high as one of the best offensive teams in league history. Atlanta, plagued by injuries and slumps, will be hard pressed to chip away at the Philadelphia Phillies’ sizable first-place advantage.
The Braves understand that first place means relatively little in the great scheme of things. Not many No. 1 seeds have won the World Series recently. However, it is critical to generate positive momentum heading into the playoffs. Right now, the Braves do not have much of that to speak about.
Alex Anthopoulos must be one of the league’s busiest general managers heading into Tuesday’s trade deadline. The Braves have endured injury after injury, setback after setback, causing holes in their depth chart and converting the offense from a juggernaut to an engine of averageness.
Atlanta’s top two players, Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuña Jr., are gone for the season. Meanwhile, Ozzie Albies is anticipated to be out for several weeks, leaving another conspicuous hole in the Braves’ middle infield.
On Sunday, June 28, Atlanta experienced another injury scare. Reynaldo Lopez, who had just made his first All-Star appearance, was pulled in the third inning of his start due to what the organization termed as “forearm tightness.” Those are two words that no pitcher wants to hear, and it sent many Braves fans to a terrible place.
Fortunately, only one day later, we get an encouraging update on Lopez’s situation.
