<img alt="MLB: JUN 14 Rays at Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FBAT_pGwxTWN-_HHXBKcMHH-7gA=/0x0:3600x2400/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73409165/2156965521.0.jpg">
Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
News and notes from Friday for the Atlanta Braves and the rest of Major League Baseball. Saying the 2024 season hasn’t gone the way the Atlanta Braves planned would likely be an understatement. The team lost Spencer Strider to a season ending injury after just two starts and the reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. to another torn ACL in May. The offense has underperformed up and down the lineup and the Braves are a sub .500 team since May 1.
As bleak as things have been, the worst thing they could do is panic. MLB.com’s Mark Bowman pointed out some similarities for this year’s team with the 2004 club in this week’s newsletter. On June 23, 2004, Atlanta was 32-38 and had lost 10 of their past 13 games. Bowman talks about how Bobby Cox said that being patient was important. That Braves team went on to win 96 games.
Brian Snitker finds himself in a similar situation now.
More Braves News
Michael Harris left Friday’s win over the Rays with a hamstring injury in the first inning. Harris suffered the injury while going first to third on a double by Ozzie Albies. Brian Snitker told reporters after the game that Harris will be placed on the injured list prior to Saturday’s game.
Austin Riley finished a triple shy of the cycle and Chris Sale turned in another great performance to the help the Braves to a 7-3 win over the Rays Friday night.
Part 1 of this week’s mailbag discusses why the Braves will be buyers and not sellers at the deadline, the zero percent chance they trade Max Fried and much more.
Baseball Prospectus’ Robert Orr does a deep dive into the Braves’ offensive struggles, in particularly against fastballs.
The Athletic’s Eno Sarris took a closer look at several young starters and talked about what he likes about Spencer Schwellenbach and what concerns him about Hurston Waldrep.
MLB Pipeline projected Kentucky outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt to the Braves in their latest mock draft.
FanGraphs released their list of the Braves’ top 36 prospects on Friday. The trio of AJ Smith-Shawver, Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep top the list.
Braves Podcasts
MLB News
The Houston Astros released veteran first baseman Jose Abreu on Friday. Abreu was in the second year of a $58.5 million contract. The team sill owes him about half of the remaining money on the deal. He produced just a .625 OPS and 20 homers in 176 games with Houston.
The Yankees, Dodgers and Orioles are among the teams that are reportedly interested in Marlins closer Tanner Scott. Scott figures to be one of the more prominent relievers to be moved at the deadline.
White Sox right-hander Michael Kopech is reportedly drawing interest from several different teams. Kopech is in his first season as a full-time reliever.
Cubs right-hander Ben Brown has been diagnosed with a stress reaction in his neck. Brown was placed on the 15-day injured list on June 11 with what was initially diagnosed as a neck strain.
More bad news for the Cubs pitching staff. Left-hander Jordan Wicks exited his start Friday in the second inning with discomfort in his right oblique. Friday was Wicks first start since April 23 and just his second appearance since returning from the injured list on June 7 where he was sidelined with a forearm strain.
The White Sox activated outfielder Tommy Pham from the 10-day injured list Friday. Pham is hitting .280 with three homers over 33 games and is expected to draw some interest at the trade deadline.
The Giants are getting infielder Nick Ahmed back from the injured list Friday. He has been sidelined since May 9 when he was hit in the wrist by a line drive in Colorado. The Giants also acquired catcher Logan Porter from the Royals Friday in exchange for cash.
The MLB Draft Combine is coming up next week and MLB Pipeline has a list of the players that will be participating.
The Red Sox released first baseman Garrett Cooper Friday. Cooper had been designated for assignment earlier this week and cleared waivers with no takers. He was hitting just .171/.227/.229 with the Red Sox.
Prior to Friday’s series opener in Atlanta, the Rays released DH/outfielder Harold Ramirez. Ramirez had been DFA’d by the Rays last week.
The Blue Jays designated Daniel Vogelbach for assignment on Friday. He was hitting just .186/.278/.300 in 79 plate appearances.
The Pirates outrighted reliever Ben Heller to Triple A Indianapolis on Friday. It is unknown yet whether or not he will accept the assignment or opt for free agency. Heller spent a portion of the 2023 season with the Braves.
<img alt="MLB: JUN 14 Rays at Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FBAT_pGwxTWN-_HHXBKcMHH-7gA=/0x0:3600x2400/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73409165/2156965521.0.jpg">
Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
News and notes from Friday for the Atlanta Braves and the rest of Major League Baseball. Saying the 2024 season hasn’t gone the way the Atlanta Braves planned would likely be an understatement. The team lost Spencer Strider to a season ending injury after just two starts and the reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. to another torn ACL in May. The offense has underperformed up and down the lineup and the Braves are a sub .500 team since May 1.
As bleak as things have been, the worst thing they could do is panic. MLB.com’s Mark Bowman pointed out some similarities for this year’s team with the 2004 club in this week’s newsletter. On June 23, 2004, Atlanta was 32-38 and had lost 10 of their past 13 games. Bowman talks about how Bobby Cox said that being patient was important. That Braves team went on to win 96 games.
Brian Snitker finds himself in a similar situation now.
More Braves News
Michael Harris left Friday’s win over the Rays with a hamstring injury in the first inning. Harris suffered the injury while going first to third on a double by Ozzie Albies. Brian Snitker told reporters after the game that Harris will be placed on the injured list prior to Saturday’s game.
Austin Riley finished a triple shy of the cycle and Chris Sale turned in another great performance to the help the Braves to a 7-3 win over the Rays Friday night.
Part 1 of this week’s mailbag discusses why the Braves will be buyers and not sellers at the deadline, the zero percent chance they trade Max Fried and much more.
Baseball Prospectus’ Robert Orr does a deep dive into the Braves’ offensive struggles, in particularly against fastballs.
The Athletic’s Eno Sarris took a closer look at several young starters and talked about what he likes about Spencer Schwellenbach and what concerns him about Hurston Waldrep.
MLB Pipeline projected Kentucky outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt to the Braves in their latest mock draft.
FanGraphs released their list of the Braves’ top 36 prospects on Friday. The trio of AJ Smith-Shawver, Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep top the list.
Braves Podcasts
MLB News
The Houston Astros released veteran first baseman Jose Abreu on Friday. Abreu was in the second year of a $58.5 million contract. The team sill owes him about half of the remaining money on the deal. He produced just a .625 OPS and 20 homers in 176 games with Houston.
The Yankees, Dodgers and Orioles are among the teams that are reportedly interested in Marlins closer Tanner Scott. Scott figures to be one of the more prominent relievers to be moved at the deadline.
White Sox right-hander Michael Kopech is reportedly drawing interest from several different teams. Kopech is in his first season as a full-time reliever.
Cubs right-hander Ben Brown has been diagnosed with a stress reaction in his neck. Brown was placed on the 15-day injured list on June 11 with what was initially diagnosed as a neck strain.
More bad news for the Cubs pitching staff. Left-hander Jordan Wicks exited his start Friday in the second inning with discomfort in his right oblique. Friday was Wicks first start since April 23 and just his second appearance since returning from the injured list on June 7 where he was sidelined with a forearm strain.
The White Sox activated outfielder Tommy Pham from the 10-day injured list Friday. Pham is hitting .280 with three homers over 33 games and is expected to draw some interest at the trade deadline.
The Giants are getting infielder Nick Ahmed back from the injured list Friday. He has been sidelined since May 9 when he was hit in the wrist by a line drive in Colorado. The Giants also acquired catcher Logan Porter from the Royals Friday in exchange for cash.
The MLB Draft Combine is coming up next week and MLB Pipeline has a list of the players that will be participating.
The Red Sox released first baseman Garrett Cooper Friday. Cooper had been designated for assignment earlier this week and cleared waivers with no takers. He was hitting just .171/.227/.229 with the Red Sox.
Prior to Friday’s series opener in Atlanta, the Rays released DH/outfielder Harold Ramirez. Ramirez had been DFA’d by the Rays last week.
The Blue Jays designated Daniel Vogelbach for assignment on Friday. He was hitting just .186/.278/.300 in 79 plate appearances.
The Pirates outrighted reliever Ben Heller to Triple A Indianapolis on Friday. It is unknown yet whether or not he will accept the assignment or opt for free agency. Heller spent a portion of the 2023 season with the Braves.
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