The Braves began the second half with a 15-1 beatdown of the Rangers. It\u2019s their second-highest scoring game of the season and stretched their NL East lead over the Phillies back to three games.<\/p>\n
Atlanta\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
While they seem to have gotten back on track, that ugly showing last month could impact the front office\u2019s deadline approach. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic<\/a> reports that Atlanta\u2019s early focus has been concentrated more on the offense than on starting pitching. That\u2019s certainly not to say the Braves won\u2019t add a starter, but Rosenthal suggests they\u2019ll take the next couple weeks to evaluate their internal options behind Chris Sale<\/a> while monitoring the injury progressions of\u00a0Spencer Strider<\/a> and\u00a0Spencer Schwellenbach<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Braves will get an offensive boost when Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr.<\/a> returns from the left hamstring strain that has cost him five weeks. Skipper Walt Weiss told Mark Bowman of MLB.com<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n While Acu\u00f1a hasn\u2019t played at his usual level this season, he\u2019ll obviously return to an everyday right field role. Atlanta is also without\u00a0Mike Yastrzemski<\/a>,\u00a0Ha-Seong Kim<\/a> and\u00a0Sean Murphy<\/a> \u2014 none of whom have contributed much this season. Yastrzemski shouldn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s going well. Mauricio Dub\u00f3n<\/a> has been the everyday left fielder in his absence.\u00a0Jim Jarvis<\/a> and\u00a0Jorge Mateo<\/a> are splitting the shortstop work with Kim sidelined. They\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n The Braves could look outside the organization for help at left field or shortstop.\u00a0Dominic Smith\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0bat has tanked over the last two months, meaning Yastrzesmki could take some designated hitter reps if they acquire an outfielder. Dub\u00f3n 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.<\/p>\n That could include some playing time at third base, where\u00a0Austin Riley<\/a> has struggled all season. He\u2019s hitting .210\/.290\/.339 with a 29% strikeout rate across 390 plate appearances. Riley still has plus bat speed, but he\u2019s chasing more often and not barreling balls up at anywhere near his usual level. He\u2019d also underperformed late last year while dealing with a core injury that required season-ending surgery.<\/p>\n Riley is signed through 2032 on what has become an underwater contract. It\u2019s unlikely the Braves will trade for a third baseman on another huge deal (e.g. Matt Chapman<\/a>, Bo Bichette<\/a>). They could inquire on someone like Houston\u2019s\u00a0Isaac Paredes<\/a> or San Francisco\u2019s\u00a0Casey Schmitt<\/a>, both of whom can play third base while factoring in at other positions. There aren\u2019t many clear shortstop trade candidates. Atlanta could inquire on the Yankees\u2019 Anthony Volpe<\/a> or try to land a multi-positional type like Minnesota\u2019s Brooks Lee<\/a> or Texas\u2019 Ezequiel<\/a> Duran<\/a>.Any of those teams might require MLB bullpen help to consider a trade when they\u2019re all in the AL playoff picture.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Braves began the second half with a 15-1 beatdown of the Rangers. 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