“You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em” is a famous line from a Kenny Rogers song. This poker reference also applies to the decisions Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos will make before Tuesday’s Trade Deadline.
With Chris Sale, Reynaldo López and Max Fried, the Braves have a starting pitching trio that could cause fits for teams in the postseason. But the odds of this team reaching the playoffs have steadily fallen during a skid that was extended with an 8-4 loss to the Mets at Citi Field on Friday night.
“It’s tough,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “It’s not fun going through this, I’ll tell you that.”
Anthopoulos built a roster that was more than capable of giving Atlanta its second World Series title in four seasons. The challenge became steeper with season-ending injuries suffered by Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider. Michael Harris II could end a two-month absence in a few weeks, but Ozzie Albies will be sidelined until the second half of September.
So, Anthopoulos must decide how aggressive he should be with potential trades. His team has lost six straight games for the first time since 2017. The Braves sit third in the National League East race and they’re no longer leading the NL Wild Card race.
The Mets now own this distinction with a half-game lead over the Padres and Braves, who are suddenly in a tight battle for one of the NL’s three Wild Card spots.
“There’s definitely a sense of urgency,” Braves catcher Travis d’Arnaud said. “It’s been over 100 games and this six-game skid — we know we’ve got to get it going and try to win every series.”
Could a trade or two change the trajectory of this Braves team that has lost nine of its past 12 games? Is it worth giving up at least one prospect to possibly make a strong postseason run this year?
This latest loss could be pinned on Charlie Morton, who allowed three homers in a seven-run third. It was a rough outing for the 40-year-old veteran, whose 4.16 ERA is in line with what a team wants from its fourth starter.
Acquiring starting pitching isn’t a priority for this team, especially with the expectation that Fried will be activated from the injured list during the early part of August.
What are the biggest needs?
To get Matt Olson going
Regardless of who the Braves acquire via trade, they need Olson to show some sense of reliability over the season’s final two months. His .471 OPS in July is the fourth-lowest mark among all qualified MLB players.
An outfielder, specifically one that could be effective in the leadoff role
Jarred Kelenic tasted immediate success when he was moved to the top of the lineup in the middle of June. But he has produced a .209 on-base percentage and .475 OPS in July. So, it wasn’t surprising before Friday’s game when Snitker said, “I may have to go with something outside the box,” after he was asked about a potential switch at the leadoff spot.
Austin Riley and Marcell Ozuna aren’t the prototypical top-of-the-lineup duo. But they are Atlanta’s only everyday players with a .300 on-base percentage this month.
If Snitker started his lineup with Riley, Ozuna, Olson and either Travis d’Arnaud or Sean Murphy (depending on who is catching that day), the rest of the lineup would still be thin. Harris’ return will help lengthen the lineup. But this offense would seemingly still need another outfield upgrade.
With Acuña, Harris and Kelenic locked up, the Braves would prefer to get an outfielder on an expiring contract. Would Tommy Pham, Kevin Pillar, Jesse Winker or Mark Canha be an upgrade?
The hurdle isn’t a steep one when you consider what the Braves’ outfielders have done recently.
Adam Duvall enjoyed his first two-homer game of the season on Friday and has now produced a .735 OPS in July. That number becomes more encouraging when you account for the fact that he has had just five plate appearances against left-handed pitchers. This includes his ninth-inning homer against Mets southpaw Jake Diekman.
Eddie Rosario hasn’t created much confidence while producing a .495 OPS since rejoining the Braves a few weeks ago. As for Kelenic, his promising June and ugly July have just served as a reminder that the Braves took a gamble on his unproven talent when they acquired him from the Mariners in December.
“The most important thing is to be playing your best brand of baseball down the stretch,” Duvall said. “That’s what we’ve been working for all year.”
