One step forward and two steps back for the Atlanta Braves, who dropped another series to the St. Louis Cardinals with a 6-2 loss Sunday at Truist Park. As depressing as the on-field results were this weekend, the injury picture continues to get worse.
If you missed it, the Braves placed Max Fried on the Injured List with a forearm issue prior to Sunday’s game. An MRI showed no structural damage, but Fried will be shut down from throwing although the Braves are hoping he won’t be out long. Ozzie Albies left Sunday’s game in the ninth inning with an apparent hand injury.
The Braves didn’t have an immediate update on Albies who was undergoing further examination but Brian Snitker did confirm that he would be placed on the Injured List.
A laundry list of injuries
The Braves’ depth has been tested since the very first day of the 2024 season. Taken all in context, they are probably lucky to be 10 games above .500 and in position for a playoff spot.
- Sean Murphy (March 30)
- Spencer Strider (April 7)
- Ozzie Albies (April 16)
- Pierce Johnson (May 4)
- Tyler Matzek (May 7)
- AJ Smith-Shawver (May 24)
- Ronald Acuña Jr (May 27)
- A.J. Minter (May 30)
- Michael Harris II (June 15)
- Hurston Waldrep (June 17)
- Ray Kerr (July 5)
- Max Fried (July 21)
- Ozzie Albies (TBD but soon)
Injuries are something that every team has to deal with, but the Braves have been hit particularly hard. Spencer Strider, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Ray Kerr are gone for the season. That list includes plenty of regulars in the lineup and the bullpen, along with the team’s top two pitching prospects.
Offense continues to misfire
The Braves led exactly one inning in the three games against the Cardinals and that came in the 10th inning of the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader when Albies walked it off with a sacrifice fly. Atlanta did manage five runs and four homers in the second game of the twin bill, but trailed the entire game.
While injuries have certainly played a part, the offense has felt injured since the start of May. After a 19-9 start, the Braves are 35-35 since May 1.
Trade Deadline
You could hear it in Brian Snitker’s voice after the game. The injuries the Braves are dealing are piling up to the point where it is going to be impossible to overcome with what they have. The good news is, the Trade Deadline is right around the corner. The bad news is, it may be difficult to fill all of the holes that this team currently has.
The first priority has to be the offense, which clearly needs a boost. That would probably come easiest in the corner outfield, but shortstop or second base, depending on how long Albies is out, could also be possibilities.
Heading into the All-Star Break, it didn’t appear that trading for a starting pitcher was likely, but might be a need now, depending on Fried’s status. Fried spoke to the media after Sunday’s game and wouldn’t put a timeframe on coming back, but said that he didn’t anticipate it being a long absence. Even if he is back soon, the Braves are going to have to manage the innings of Chris Sale, Reynaldo López, and rookie Spencer Schwellenbach. Adding another option to help eat innings may now be in order.
Urgency Shmurgency
The Braves came out of the All-Star Break with a rotation plan that included only one of their “big three.” After a rainout and Fried’s injury, none of their All-Star starters ended up making an appearance. Partly because of that, they ended up dropping a series, and the season series, to the Cardinals, which could matter in terms of seeding when the season is over. Moreover, though, the Braves largely just continue to operate with their same steady gameplan, under the assumption that it will all be fine.
In their defense, at least right now, it probably all will be fine, if the threshold is making the playoffs. The only thing the Braves really need to safeguard against is a slide that happens so late in the year they lack the time to make up for it, a la 2014, and the chances of that happening specifically with that timing aren’t too high. But, every time they’ve made a move to get them through the season that’s helped drop a game is also something that’s eaten away at the cushion they have for making the playoffs, so the longer they are content to tread water, the more that cushion could erode.
