The Atlanta Braves aren’t ready to admit they’re running out of time to prove they can remain in the playoff hunt.
But with the offense continuing to falter, the team is increasingly looking like a potential seller at the upcoming trade deadline rather than a buyer.
In a disappointing series against the Los Angeles Angels, Atlanta came within two outs of being shut out again, ultimately dropping two of three games. A ninth-inning home run from Jurickson Profar spared them a second shutout of the series and a fourth in just seven games, but it wasn’t nearly enough to energize an offense that once again looked lifeless in a 5-1 loss Thursday night.
The Braves were also blanked 4-0 in Tuesday’s series opener.
With a 39-47 record, Atlanta sits in fourth place in the NL East and continues to slide.
Manager Brian Snitker had hoped Profar’s return from an 80-game drug suspension would inject life into the lineup. The outfielder has homered in consecutive games since returning as the starting left fielder and No. 5 hitter. Still, it wasn’t enough to prevent the Braves from suffering their first home series loss to the Angels since 2005.
“Hopefully that’ll be a boost for us,” Snitker said. “If we can get some guys going around him.”
That support didn’t come Thursday. The Braves managed just three singles in seven innings against Angels right-hander José Soriano, who didn’t allow a runner past first base. Matt Olson extended his on-base streak to 33 games with a first-inning single, but others continue to struggle—Michael Harris is hitting just .215 and Ozzie Albies is batting .224, with both going hitless in the loss.
The offensive slump is adding fuel to speculation that roster changes could be coming at the deadline.
“None of us want to hear that,” Olson said. “We’re showing up every day competing. The playoffs are still in our sights. We know what our record is and understand the outside talk, but we still believe in this group. We’re just not playing the way we expect to.”
Atlanta’s troubles extend beyond the lineup. The starting rotation has been hit hard by injuries, and Bryce Elder’s struggles continued Thursday as he allowed four runs on eight hits and three walks over five innings—his third straight loss. The Braves quickly fell behind 3-0 after two innings.
“That’s on me,” Elder said. “It’s hard for the offense to find a rhythm when we’re always playing from behind.”
Elder’s rough outing came a day after Spencer Schwellenbach was placed on the 15-day injured list with a fractured right elbow. The Braves’ rotation is already missing key arms, including Chris Sale (broken rib), AJ Smith-Shawver (Tommy John surgery), and Reynaldo López (shoulder surgery), leaving the team thin on reliable options.
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