SE Atlanta News

ATLANTA -- The Braves have snapped their cold spell, celebrating their first series win since taking two of three at Wrigley Field from May 21-23. Here are some key points as the team moves forward:

1. The Braves invested $17 million to secure Jarred Kelenic for five seasons. This investment could pay off this year if Kelenic continues to fill in effectively for Michael Harris II as a center fielder and leadoff hitter. "So far, so good," noted one observer, highlighting Kelenic's defensive capabilities and his recent offensive performance, including hitting .300 with a .920 OPS over his past 15 games. Manager Brian Snitker indicated that Ozzie Albies is the only player suited for the two-hole, suggesting Kelenic will remain at the top of the lineup.

2. Despite significant injuries, including season-ending losses to Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider, and extended absences for Sean Murphy and Harris, the Braves remain resilient. If they can enter the postseason with Max Fried, Chris Sale, López, and Charlie Morton healthy, they still have World Series potential. "They won a title without [Acuña], and that club didn't feature a lineup as strong as the injury-depleted one they are currently using," commented an insider.

3. As the July 30 Trade Deadline approaches, there is speculation about whether Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos can replicate his successful trades from July 2021 when he acquired Joc Pederson, Jorge Soler, Eddie Rosario, and Adam Duvall under favorable terms. With Harris potentially recovering before the deadline, acquiring another outfielder might be necessary.

4. In light of Acuña's injury and Harris' absence, Atlanta's current outfield options include Kelenic, Duvall, Ramón Laureano, J.P. Martínez, and Brian Anderson. There is ongoing discussion about potential targets like Tommy Pham or others who could bolster the outfield roster.

5. Looking ahead to All-Star selections in a few weeks' time: Marcell Ozuna appears to be a lock while López leads MLB with a 1.69 ERA; Sale joins Luis Gil of the Yankees as MLB’s only pitchers with both a strikeout rate over 30 percent and an ERA below 3.00; Fried (3.20) also has potential to drop his ERA below 3.00 before selections are finalized.