The Braves are set to open the second-half of the season at home against the Rays on Friday. Much has changed since Opening Day with regards to the outlook for this Atlanta team, with much of the cause for concern lying in the outfield. Cristian Pache was ineffective, Marcell Ozuna was arrested, Sneakers2090 ,and now Ronald Acuna is injured. It has been a cavalcade of disasters at seemingly every turn, but the Braves are somehow still just four games behind the division-leading Mets.

The Trade Deadline is approaching, which could shape how the club performs down the stretch. Will the front office opt for an aggressive approach despite the obvious depth issues that have become apparent all over the roster, or will they opt to sell with the anticipation that losing so much of the regular lineup will be too much of a detriment? We will know very soon.

Braves News

There’s no way Freddie Freeman leaves the Braves. Is there?

Speaking of tough decisions, the Braves still appear to have very little traction toward an extension with Freddie Freeman. As Mark Bradley writes, would Freeman really leave Atlanta?

Atlanta Braves Minor League Recap: Jared Shuster returns and impresses

The Braves selected Jared Shuster in the first round of the 2020 draft, and the left-hander has been impressive thus far. He worked four scoreless innings for Rome on Tuesday.