This player is key for Braves in 2nd half

This story was excerpted from Mark Bowman’s Braves Beat publication. To learn the complete publication, click here. And subscribe to get it frequently in your inbox.

The Braves exited the 2021 All-Star break a recreation under .500 and ended up successful the World Sequence. They exited the 2022 break 18 video games above .500 and ended up dropping to the Phillies within the Nationwide League Division Sequence.

All indicators point out this yr’s Braves will win a sixth straight Nationwide League East title and presumably break the franchise document for wins (106). However because the previous two years have proven, uncertainty stays over the ultimate 2 1/2 months of a 162-game season.

The Braves might need gained a second straight World Sequence had they not entered final yr’s postseason with each Max Fried and Spencer Strider ailing. So, it’s too early to foretell how the remainder of the common season may evolve, however here’s a have a look at why Atlanta followers are anticipating one other memorable October.

What we discovered
The Braves have matched a franchise document with 60 wins via the primary 89 video games of the season. The primary half turns into extra spectacular while you account for Fried (completed second in final yr’s NL Cy Younger balloting) and Kyle Wright (MLB’s solely 20-game winner in 2022) combining to finish simply 44 2/3 innings. Bryce Elder has helped fill the void, going from Triple-A Gwinnett’s Opening Day starter to All-Star inside three months. However this group has additionally benefited from a wholesome Ronald Acuña Jr., who sits on the high of a lineup on tempo to interrupt MLB’s single-season house run document.

Most probably Commerce Deadline method
Alex Anthopoulos is not going to simply sit nonetheless over the subsequent couple weeks. He’ll discover many alternative alternatives. The most important query is what’s his group’s largest want? The bullpen has been strengthened with the enhancements made by Joe Jiménez and Kirby Yates. A backup infielder is perhaps the one want from a place participant standpoint. So, even with Fried presumably only a couple weeks from being activated, buying a beginning pitcher is perhaps the very best potential transfer. Elder has been nice. However, like Jared Shuster, AJ Smith-Shawver and Michael Soroka, there’s cause to marvel if he may fatigue in September. In fact, by that point, Wright might be again.

Key participant
The Braves gained the 2021 World Sequence with out Acuña Jr. They don’t need to attempt that trick once more. Nor do they need to enter the postseason like they did final yr with Strider ailing and Fried coping with a virus that brought about him to lose 15 kilos in every week. So, there can be a number of consideration positioned on Fried when he returns in late July and makes an attempt to show he’s now not bothered by the left forearm pressure that sidelined him in early Could.

Prospect to look at
Smith-Shawver has already made the rise to the Majors simply two years after graduating highschool. His three begins confirmed he wasn’t fairly prepared for the Majors, however he may nonetheless be wanted once more sooner or later this yr. Even when there isn’t a necessity for him to fill a void within the rotation, there’s all the time an opportunity he might be utilized out of the bullpen sooner or later down the stretch.